Chickens with respiratory probs and swollen eyes

[nissa_loves_cats]

Had some problems earlier this year (after I was given a free rooster) with chickens getting respiratory illness with watery eyes, eyes were swollen shut on some, and the affected chickens smelled bad. One roo died, other chickens recovered, but recently another chicken got sick with same symptoms and died.

Anyone know what this might be?

 

[emzee]

My silkie's eyes have been closing up, and someone told me that it might be infectious coryza. So now I have them on an antibiotic for that.

 

[The Sheriff]

Google "Infectious Coryza." Your free rooster could have been a carrier and bought it into your flock. If so, all your birds who have been exposed could get sick and all will be carriers for life. There is a test call a Poultry Respiratory Panel that can tell you if that is what you are dealing with. It's expensive, about $150 plus shipping of the specimen. We just went through this after bringing in a $5.00 OEG bantam rooster I got at a small animal exchange and being dumb enough not to quarantine. But after tons of research and money I now realize that even quarantine doesn't guarantee anything. The bird could still be a carrier and not be sick himself. Luckily the tests were negative, he just had a bacterial respiratory infection which he passed on to the first hen he got into a fight with. We almost lost both of them but without knowing we might have had to cull our entire flock.

I am sorry you are going through this. It was horrible.

Good luck.

Mary

p.s. I have now closed my flock to new chicks, pullets, and adult birds. If I don't hatch it here, it isn't getting in! There is still some risk with hatching eggs but I will buy only from reputable sellers.