Bump on eye?

[BarbiD]

Can anyone tell me what this bump is? I've been treating her for MG and a couple days ago this bump showed up on her eye.

 

[MrsBrooke]

Bug bite, she scratched herself too hard, peck wound. Unlikely that it's a tumor or something like that.

I'm curious - why and how are you treating the MG, if you don't mind me asking?

MrsB

 

[BarbiD]

Well started with oxytetracycline in the water for 8 days and that didn't seem to be working, so now we are on day 4 with 1cc of Tylan orally. Will the bump go away? Sorta seems like it's gotten a little bigger.

 

[BarbiD]

And we are treating for MG because after I brought my 3 new pullets home, I noticed they had runny noses. Called the breeder and that's what she told me to do.

 

[MrsBrooke]

I hate to butt in but I feel your breeder lacks an understanding of mycoplasma if she 1) sold you those birds in the first place if they could be carriers, and 2) told you treat with oxytetracycline.

Have those birds been exposed to the rest of your flock? Even to the point of handling these birds first and then visiting your flock?

To treat MG, you need Baytril (enfloxacin), which is best prescribed by a vet, but you can order it online.

Have you done much reading on MG yet? *If* it is mycoplasma, the birds, if they survive, will be carriers for life and can infect other birds without showing symptoms.

Also, there are several respiratory infections with similar symptoms. Only a vet can give you a 100% diagnosis as to what you're dealing with and only after blood work.

MrsB

 

[BarbiD]

Thank you, MrsB! I am beside myself with this and I have done as much reading as I could find here and other sites. I have no clue what they have and I called my vet straight away to see if they would do a blood test so I would know for sure what I am dealing with, but they don't treat chickens and apparently no other vet in our area does either. So, I've been left with the advice of the team at Tractor Supply and what I could find on the internet. I was devastated when I found out I bought sick chickens and brought them home to my flock and that someone would knowingly do that to me, a new chicken owner. I did have them quarantined for the first 2 weeks and practiced strict biosecurity, but with Hurricane Matthew coming I had to put them in the coop with my other girls. So far, my original girls seem fine but I know that is not a given. The new girls' symptoms were just runny noses as I've posted here. They've never had any sneezing, wheezing or bubbles in their eyes. They are very energetic and friendly, eating and drinking and their poop looks great. If not MG...what do you think it is? I am open to any advice. Today is the last dose we are to give them of Tylan.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

[BarbiD]

Also, should I continue with 1cc of Tylan orally after today (day 5) if they still have a runny nose?

 

[MrsBrooke]

I can't remember if the max is 5 or 7 days on Tylan.

I might call that vet back and clarify that you just need a diagnosis, not treatment. If it's the same vet that you take your dogs and cats to, I'm sure they would be willing to help you. Even many dedicated avian vets know nothing about chickens (ask me how I know...).

It's imperative we figure out what they have in order to make the right decision on treatment or your next step. Gram positive bacteria and gram negative bacteria require different antibiotics, and guessing just won't cut it.

If it's not MG, it could be Infectious Bronchitis, which is ALMOST a non-issue... It goes through the flock, runs its course, and goes away after about a year. MG *never* goes away until you literally start over and wait three weeks for the virus to dissipate in the soil.

I hope your vet is willing to at LEAST draw blood for you and test it. Ugh.

MrsB

 

[MrsBrooke]

As for the bump, just keep an eye on it... You could dab a little Neosporin on it and see if that helps.

MrsB

 

[BarbiD]

Would it be a fair assumption that if two different antibiotics didn't work that this could be bacterial or fungus related and not a virus? I saw some old posts here about Oxine. Should I try that while continuing to search for a vet that would do a blood test?