Extremely swollen sinus not responding to antibiotics

[Myrshine]

It’s possible that you could be dealing with a viral infection such as Infectious Bronchitis (IB) or Infectious Laryngotracheitis (ILT). It’s also possible that whatever you’re dealing with could be antibiotic-resistant as well. I suggest squeezing the swollen areas to make sure there their is no pus pockets.

 

[Pastors wife]

I squeezed both sides in every direction possible. No pus or discharge at all. No hard or thick spots. I’m sure they are super sore right now.

 

[sherahart]

Assuming your bird's sinuses are still swollen, have you tried Terramycin opthalmic ointment? I found out after I gave a hen away (to someone that said his dad knew how to treat a long term sinus bump) that you have to massage around the eye for several minutes after you put in the drop or gel. This should happen twice a day, minimum. Once the tear duct absorbs the medicine, it should end up in the sinus cavity where it can fight the infection. However, since giving away that hen around 6 years ago, I've treated some doozy sinus bumps, not all successfully. The worst ones resulted from wet pox, and nothing I did cleared those viral eye infections. Chicks died. I came tonight to find an alternative treatment to Terramycin for a friend's Leghorn hen.

History: hen had a long-term sinus bump so big that the eye was hidden under the swollen tissue. The friend can't afford a veterinarian, so I suggested she contact a local chicken rescuer whose knowledge impressed me when I heard her teach at a chicken show. The rescuer cut open the facial bump and dug out the hard pus. Sad to say, my friend's rooster died a few days following his facial surgery. The hen's bump came right back. Since infection resisted terramycin ointment applications, I suggested my friend try injecting oxytetracycline LA with a tiny needle for diabetic insulin injections. Facial surgery and/or injections are not something to try unless nothing else works because the face has a lot of nerves and bleeds a lot.

I am now chicken-sitting while the hen's owner is visiting relatives. If a tiny test spot bleeds, I don't inject there. I find another spot close to center of swelling. Then I inject a second spot. So far, each injection has liquified some pus so it came out of the hen's eye and slit in roof of mouth. I also use a cotton swab to put triple antibiotic in the slit in the roof of the hen's mouth--carefully; it makes her gag. I also rub triple antibiotic around the facial swelling over a long period, like 15 minutes. After 4 days, I can see the eye, barely. I wondered about switching to enrofloxacin aka Baytril injections, which should not be used on chicks or juveniles due to side effects such as deformed joints and sudden/permanent nerve damage, etc. Tonight's reading on BYC suggested Ciprofloxacin Hydrochloride opthalmic drops, so I'm going to ask my vet about getting some. I already bought children's immune gummies containing C, D, and Zinc, and started giving that to the hen to see if I can build her immunity. I also give her probiotics in her feed because antibiotics do such damage to normal flora that it can take months to rebuild otherwise.

I am not trying to discourage you. Your hen's sinus swelling sounds like an easy case compared to most I've treated. Mycoplasma is a common culprit in the south, and CRD is what happens when other pathogens get involved. You can usually tell by the smell. If there's no odor, it might take a lot of effort to find a treatment that works. I don't know of a virus that would cause swelling over such a long time. If your hen has allergies, no amount of antibiotics will help. Nasal spray with steroids might help along with anti-inflammatory essential oils such as lemon in her water. There's a lot of good unbiased research now available online concerning natural substances that fight infections and/or boost immunity.

I try to read at least one study every week to have a fighting chance at keeping my chickens healthy. Either that, or BYC. You just have to be careful about old threads that suggest culling an entire flock. Not practical for CRD according to Dr. Gary Butcher, U of F Poultry Specialist. Not an exact quote, but he said every commercial flock and close to 100% of the wild bird population in the south has mycoplasma, and if any standard antibiotics would cure it, the commercial industry would be free of the disease by now. So I keep reading research...

 

[Banana01]

I squeezed both sides in every direction possible. No pus or discharge at all. No hard or thick spots. I’m sure they are super sore right now.

Does your chicken smell bad? I have a hen with a swollen face and I treated for coryza. If your hen smells foul I can share the medicine with you.

 

[Pastors wife]

Assuming your bird's sinuses are still swollen, have you tried Terramycin opthalmic ointment? I found out after I gave a hen away (to someone that said his dad knew how to treat a long term sinus bump) that you have to massage around the eye for several minutes after you put in the drop or gel. This should happen twice a day, minimum. Once the tear duct absorbs the medicine, it should end up in the sinus cavity where it can fight the infection. However, since giving away that hen around 6 years ago, I've treated some doozy sinus bumps, not all successfully. The worst ones resulted from wet pox, and nothing I did cleared those viral eye infections. Chicks died. I came tonight to find an alternative treatment to Terramycin for a friend's Leghorn hen.

History: hen had a long-term sinus bump so big that the eye was hidden under the swollen tissue. The friend can't afford a veterinarian, so I suggested she contact a local chicken rescuer whose knowledge impressed me when I heard her teach at a chicken show. The rescuer cut open the facial bump and dug out the hard pus. Sad to say, my friend's rooster died a few days following his facial surgery. The hen's bump came right back. Since infection resisted terramycin ointment applications, I suggested my friend try injecting oxytetracycline LA with a tiny needle for diabetic insulin injections. Facial surgery and/or injections are not something to try unless nothing else works because the face has a lot of nerves and bleeds a lot.

I am now chicken-sitting while the hen's owner is visiting relatives. If a tiny test spot bleeds, I don't inject there. I find another spot close to center of swelling. Then I inject a second spot. So far, each injection has liquified some pus so it came out of the hen's eye and slit in roof of mouth. I also use a cotton swab to put triple antibiotic in the slit in the roof of the hen's mouth--carefully; it makes her gag. I also rub triple antibiotic around the facial swelling over a long period, like 15 minutes. After 4 days, I can see the eye, barely. I wondered about switching to enrofloxacin aka Baytril injections, which should not be used on chicks or juveniles due to side effects such as deformed joints and sudden/permanent nerve damage, etc. Tonight's reading on BYC suggested Ciprofloxacin Hydrochloride opthalmic drops, so I'm going to ask my vet about getting some. I already bought children's immune gummies containing C, D, and Zinc, and started giving that to the hen to see if I can build her immunity. I also give her probiotics in her feed because antibiotics do such damage to normal flora that it can take months to rebuild otherwise.

I am not trying to discourage you. Your hen's sinus swelling sounds like an easy case compared to most I've treated. Mycoplasma is a common culprit in the south, and CRD is what happens when other pathogens get involved. You can usually tell by the smell. If there's no odor, it might take a lot of effort to find a treatment that works. I don't know of a virus that would cause swelling over such a long time. If your hen has allergies, no amount of antibiotics will help. Nasal spray with steroids might help along with anti-inflammatory essential oils such as lemon in her water. There's a lot of good unbiased research now available online concerning natural substances that fight infections and/or boost immunity.

I try to read at least one study every week to have a fighting chance at keeping my chickens healthy. Either that, or BYC. You just have to be careful about old threads that suggest culling an entire flock. Not practical for CRD according to Dr. Gary Butcher, U of F Poultry Specialist. Not an exact quote, but he said every commercial flock and close to 100% of the wild bird population in the south has mycoplasma, and if any standard antibiotics would cure it, the commercial industry would be free of the disease by now. So I keep reading research...

Thank you for your thoughtful reply. My hen is 3 years old. And there is no hard bump or pus in there. I live in PA I will try some of your suggestions and hopefully give her some relief. I have a hard time finding a vet that will treat chickens. I really appreciate your advice.

 

[Pastors wife]

Does your chicken smell bad? I have a hen with a swollen face and I treated for coryza. If your hen smells foul I can share the medicine with you.

She doesn’t smell bad. But thank you for your offer

 

[Banana01]

My 3 year old barred rock has had swollen sinuses for over a year. No discharge, sneezing, etc. She has been treated twice with the same antibiotic prescribed by a local large animal vet. We are rural and the local vet will not treat chickens. The large animal vet will, but acknowledges their knowledge is limited in poultry. So….
Her sinuses have recently (2weeks) become so swollen, she is having trouble seeing her food so she is beginning to lose weight.
I’m offering treats of fresh oregano which she eats like crazy. Poop, behavior, activity level is normal, and she still talks non-stop. No other chickens have developed any respiratory problem in over a year. The sinuses are soft and balloon like. No firm gunk inside.
All of my limited research suggests Rx meds that I cannot get.
I’ve cleaned the coop, changed the bedding, etc.
Please offer suggestions.

I wonder if its allergies that have developed over the past year? Is pollen a thing this time of year? Is the bedding hypoallergenic?

So she can eat, you could try a seperate feeding dish that is deeper. I raise blind and semi blind chickens and know the frustration.

Do you have a vaporizor? You could try various mucolytics treatments such as hypertonic saline, and natural remedies such as garlic steam. Humans would use a nebulizer, but a vaporizor would maybe work. Also vicks vapor rub melted in a spoon and let her breathe the vapor.

This looks allergy related, but I do not know much about mycoplasma or what that is.