Eye infection/bubbles in eyes...

[sillyovrsilkies]

Several of my hatchery silkies ended up with an eye infection last Nov. (Symptoms: closing eyes & clear bubbles). I took 2 of them to the vet and they were treated with eye ointment and Tylan (but it spread through the flock and all were treated). Now, one of my pullets is showing signs AGAIN! I separated her yesterday and treated with eye ointment only. I have Tylan, but wanted to observe her more closely before giving antibiotic. My question is: Is this a chronic condition by which eradication is the only real treatment? I don't like the thought of culling her (and possibly the other 2 pullets with her); however, I do not want to continue treating a condition that's going to continually show up in the flock. I've got NPIP testing scheduled in May and want to ensure I have a healthy flock.

If I do cull...what is the best way to treat the coop & run where they've been housed so that the infection is eradicated and I can use for other birds?

Thanks in advance for your prompt (and wise) responses!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

I really don't know what your dealing with so don't have any answers but maybe you can find some help here till someone with experience comes on
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/

 

[MamaHynne]

I've been dealing with the problem as well. It is often a symptom of CRD. I sure hope your babies get well and stay that way.

 

[chickengrl]

Unfortunately, most of the respiratory diseases do become chronic and will raise it's ugly head if the chicken becomes stressed or the immune system is down. The only way to ensure you are rid of it is to cull the birds. it's a difficult decision and a very personal one. If you have a bird die you can ask your State veterinarian for a necropsy to get a real diagnosis and then be able to make a plan for your flock. It is often free in some states and low cost in the rest. There may also be a vaccine available, but that won't help your sick birds but might keep it from spreading. Good luck with all this, it can be very frustrating.

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

what you have is known as MG (mycoplasma gallepsum) commonly called CRD (Chronic Respiratory Disease)
Yes by that second name, it is chronic and all birds will be life long carriers of it. It is a very common problem in all poultry, especially game birds, such as turkeys, pheasants and peafowl, by chickens and ducks get it too. It spreads very rapidly threw the flock by bird to bird, dust, you, food, rodents, you name it. Within 1-2 weeks, every bird on your property will have been exposed to it. Problem is, it spreads to the egg threw the hen as well.

The NPIP has test for it as well. Have your guy do a test and you will know for sure.
By swollen eye, and especially eye foam are the main signs of it. Also head shaking, rattled breathing, and sneezing can be signs as well.

You can still get NPIP certified, but many states now require MG testing to be done too before you can ship into them.

There is no cure whatsoever for it. All these antibiotics on the market that claim to cure it do nothing for it, all they do is stop secondary infection from killing the bird while they are in a weakened state. In 2-3 weeks they get better, but once stressed again, especially in the cold winter months, they will pop up with it again. Just watch this fall at all the threads that come up with similar symptoms. It will show you how common and wide spread this disease is.

Goo thing is, in most cases, the birds do survive it and are perfectly normal most of the time....bad thing is, they spread it to every bird they come in contact with and pass it threw the egg to their offspring.