Advice for hen's nare

[Sqhomestead]

So we've been trying for 3 months to get this hen's nare cleared. Yesterday was the MOST progress we've made. Saline flushes broke up A LOT of gunk and we got so much out of it. It started to bleed a little and we stopped. This is today. To me, the stuff in it now looks like swollen tissue? Can anyone with knowledge of chicken anatomy tell if this is still debree or tissue?

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry this is still going on. I remember your thread from last month, and you had also seen bubbles in the eye. Did you give the Tylan earlier that was recommended? Some have reported nasal canker, which is a protozoan that they treated with FishZole (metronidazole, Flagyl,) which you can buy online from fish supply stores in 250 mg capsules. Dosage is 250 mg a day or 125 mg twice a day. Or you may consult a vet to try and identify what is going on since this has been going on since November.

 

[Sqhomestead]

Since this first started with the nare and eye she's had tylan50, 2 times a day for 7 days, she got better then worse again. She's been treated with the metronidizole (fishzole) and duramycin. We also tried the all natural route with ACV, colloidal silver and garlic. I really believe her issue is debree that we haven't been able to get out. It's only ever the same nare and the same eye on that side when her eye acts up.

 

[Eggcessive]

Some people have used sharp pointed intruments to dig out nasal debris. Wooden orange sticks and other manicure insteuments may work. You may have something already that may work, but peroxide works pretty well with just a few drops of the bubbling to help soften it. Chicken feed is the usual cause of these blockages.

She may just have a very narrow opening in that nostril. With all of the meds you have given, it is frustrating, but if this is due to mycoplasma (MG) or canker, those can be chronic diseases.

 

[dawg53]

I had a hen that inhaled a small feed granule. Over time it somehow worked its way through her sinusus and over to the right side of her face. It appeared to be a white zit.
I wrapped the hen in a towel and layed on her side and cut open the zit. Sure enough it was the granule.
Could it be possible your hen inhales tiny bits of feed granules when she's eating or when she dust bathes, she inhales dust into her nare and it hardens after awhile?
I believe it's possible that some of the debris works its way through the sinusus into the eye causing it to drain. First thoughts would be a respiratory issue when it really isnt.
If your birds dust bathe alot, that could be the main cause.
I've had to use warm water nasal flushes and toothpicks to gently clear nostrils on occasion. It can be time consuming. You'll know the nare is clear when the bird exhales a little water out of the nare or blows out a bubble.

 

[Sqhomestead]

I had a hen that inhaled a small feed granule. Over time it somehow worked its way through her sinusus and over to the right side of her face. It appeared to be a white zit.
I wrapped the hen in a towel and layed on her side and cut open the zit. Sure enough it was the granule.
Could it be possible your hen inhales tiny bits of feed granules when she's eating or when she dust bathes, she inhales dust into her nare and it hardens after awhile?
I believe it's possible that some of the debris works its way through the sinusus into the eye causing it to drain. First thoughts would be a respiratory issue when it really isnt.
If your birds dust bathe alot, that could be the main cause.
I've had to use warm water nasal flushes and toothpicks to gently clear nostrils on occasion. It can be time consuming. You'll know the nare is clear when the bird exhales a little water out of the nare or blows out an air bubble.

I think you're right that she inhaled something. It seems like it went up inside the nare and lodged there. I really hope we got it Yesterday but hard to tell just yet. There is a slight openiing but either more debris or swollen tissue in there. I think I'll keep doing the saline flushes and maybe some peroxide once tonight. Thank you!

 

[Sqhomestead]

Some people have used sharp pointed intruments to dig out nasal debris. Wooden orange sticks and other manicure insteuments may work. You may have something already that may work, but peroxide works pretty well with just a few drops of the bubbling to help soften it. Chicken feed is the usual cause of these blockages.

She may just have a very narrow opening in that nostril. With all of the meds you have given, it is frustrating, but if this is due to mycoplasma (MG) or canker, those can be chronic diseases.

 

[Sqhomestead]

Yesterday for the 1st time we pressed down on her nare some and basically waa squeezing the gunk right out. For sure we thought respiratory issue at first, and it's still quite possible that is it. But she never gets lethargic, always eats and drinks good and forages good.

 

[dawg53]

The thing about respiratory issues is that they spread easily to other birds in the flock, including canker.
If that's not happening, then it has to be a blocked nare caused by dust, feed, debris from bedding etc...
Put one drop of water on the nare that you suspect is clogged, watch and see if it's exhaled out. You might have to do it a couple times to be sure the drop of water is being forced out or a bubble appears. If either occurs, then the nare is clear and okay.
Also, dont force anything up into the nare, like a toothpick, it can push debris further up causing possible injury.

 

[Eggcessive]

Soapy water may bubble even better. Good suggestion.