Bubble Eyes... How long?

[BayCityChick]

On Sunday morning I noticed bubbles in my Cornish crosses eyes. She is approximately five weeks old, and typical of the breed, a bit overweight. I immediately separated her from the flock, and put her in the chicken hospital. She has a slight bit of congestion, but no runny nose and her eyes look normal now. The bubbly eyes have stopped. I haven't seen them since Sunday morning. This particular chick has always had a bit of sneeze (from one day old and on) but it never amounted to anything nor did the sneeze spread to the other chicks, so I never worried about it. I suppose that my question is, what should I be looking for? I recently switched from larger pine shavings to slightly finer ones, and I'm wondering if it could be the shavings that are causing the problem. Also, how long do I have to wait before it is safe to return her to the flock? She does have a slight amount of congestion and a bit of a sneeze. I'm wondering if I should just treat her with VetRX and wait it out, or if I should go ahead and get some Tylan 50. I guess I'm just a bit confused, and the vet can't tell me much. I'm turning to all of you. Thanks!

 

[Eggcessive]

At what age do you plan to process your chickens? I wouldn't recommend medicating a pullet for respiratory disease if I was planning to eat it. Rather than a respiratory disease I think it could just have irritation from dust or feed in the coop. There are times when mold can cause those symptoms also. I would make sure their litter is clean, dry, and use large flakes of pine shavings. If you see any swelling in the face or eyes, I would cull the bird. I haven't raised meat birds, so I don't have any of experience with them. Sorry that you are having to deal with this.

 

[BayCityChick]

Thank you! We received the Cornish X by mistake, supposedly she was a leghorn. We have no plans to eat her yet, but are just going to let her live out her life here. The chickens are pets for my children, and pest control for me. Eggs are a bonus!

 

[azygous]

Bubbly eye isn't necessarily a sign of respiratory disease. It can also be cause by a tumor putting pressure on the sinuses.

I have a six-year old hen with a tumor over her eye. At first I thought it was an eye infection so I treated her for that. It was only weeks later that I noticed the slow growing tumor. It's apparently benign since she seems healthy and happy. She's had it over a year now.

Yours may be something benign, too.

 

[pthurston]

I have a hen that had a bubbly eye until i put some polysporin in it. Within a day it was clear. This was last week. I will let you know if it has come back.

 

[Eggcessive]

Thank you! We received the Cornish X by mistake, supposedly she was a leghorn. We have no plans to eat her yet, but are just going to let her live out her life here. The chickens are pets for my children, and pest control for me. Eggs are a bonus!

Many people accidentally get meat birds, and they can be free-ranged with other chickens by moving their food a ways from the coop. Their food needs to be limited because they will gorge themselves. Several members of BYC have reported breeding their birds, but of course they can suffer many health problems such as heart and bone breakage. Here is a thread by someone who has tried getting her meat birds outside: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...-your-cornish-x-meaties-tractors-do-not-count