Chicken with "swollen" eyes

[MochaDuck]

Yes to both. I'd isolate that bird immediately and keep a close eye on your others. Clean feeders and waterers.

Could the bubbles have just been from me cleaning her eye? They we're only on one eye.

She's already been around the other chickens. Is there still a point in seperating her?

How serious is this, whether is bacteria or a virus? Is it deadly?

 

[MochaDuck]

@AmyJane725
Is this the stuff?

 

[AmyJane725]

View attachment 1791700 @AmyJane725
Is this the stuff?

That is the stuff.

Even though it's contagious, there's a chance the others don't have it yet. I'd still isolate (and clean community items) just in case it spares the others.

It is deadly. I suppose it's possible that a bird could get over it without treatment, but I certainly wouldn't leave it to chance. Respiratory infections are killers for birds.

How bad were the bubbles? Did you do something during cleaning you think could have caused them? I mean, you didn't use soap, did you?

Here is a very short thread you can look over. The OP posted a picture of the eye bubbles. Were yours comparable, or much less bad?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/help-my-hen-has-bubbles-in-her-eye.480071/

 

[AmyJane725]

@casportpony @Eggcessive @Wyorp Rock @Texas Kiki

Hey experts, can you help out here? I don't want to freak this poor OP out for nothing. The eye bubble thing has me worried though. What do ya'll think?

 

[AmyJane725]

What eye ointment do you recommend? And will that help the swelling around the eye, or just the eyeball itself?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

What eye ointment do you recommend? And will that help the swelling around the eye, or just the eyeball itself?

POST #5 of this thread

 

[AmyJane725]

POST #5 of this thread

Oh. My mistake. I forgot you had posted earlier already.

 

[MochaDuck]

Can you get some clearer photos of her eye?
Could you tell if it was dirty, had scabs, fleas/mites?
Bubbles in the eye could be Mycoplasma, but infection from other sources can cause bubbles too. You don't mention any respiratory symptoms. I would flush the eye really well with saline and apply an eye ointment at least 2 times a day as suggested previously. Antibiotics should be your last defense. If she worsens or develops other symptoms then consider treating, but getting testing would be best.

Mycoplasma is a bacterium and does respond to antibiotic treatment, but a bird that recovers would be a carrier and those that have been living/exposed to that bird would be carriers as well.

The area around the eye is dirty, and I got some of it. But it looks more like it's just dirt. I can try to get better pictures tomorrow.

I only saw bubbles when I cleaned her "eye". I cleaned the area around her eye with wet and dry q-tips. No soap.

She acts fine aside from her swelling and those bubbles. What else could it be? Are all the possible illnesses deadly or contagious?

Edit: and the bubbles would go away after a few blinks. They were only in one eye, and that was the only time I notice any bubbles. She still lays, eats, and drinks fine.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

The area around the eye is dirty, and I got some of it. But it looks more like it's just dirt. I can try to get better pictures tomorrow.

I only saw bubbles when I cleaned her "eye". I cleaned the area around her eye with wet and dry q-tips. No soap.

She acts fine aside from her swelling and those bubbles. What else could it be? Are all the possible illnesses deadly or contagious?

Edit: and the bubbles would go away after a few blinks. They were only in one eye, and that was the only time I notice any bubbles. She still lays, eats, and drinks fine.

Flush the eye out with saline, only use qtips if there is gunk in the eye - see if you can rinse the eye clean of any dirt/debris. Then get some pictures. Have someone help hold her while you work on her.

Have you added any new chickens to your flock in the last 30 days? If so, how old and where from?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Ok. I'll try that. Is there a chance then, that it's nothing serious?

Yes. 9 chicks. The oldest (at the time) was about 8 weeks old. We got them all at the store I work in. None of the other chicks there (that I can remember and saw. If I was there when they came in I usually was the one who counted the chicks to see how many there were) or any of my other chicks have either swollen eyes or bubbles in their eyes. It was almost four weeks ago that we introduced them, and they never touched each other directly.

Anytime there is swelling it's a concern. It may be an infection from debris or a peck/scratch to the eye. Infection of the eyes have many causes. Respiratory disease is one to consider as well, but to me, it looks like there is a scab so if you can get a better photo that would be helpful.