Eye problem on Ameraucana hen (respiratory issue actually)

[TexasWineGuy]

Update Sunday 10-6:

After 3 days of showing no symptoms (small bubbly discharge from corner of one eye) the symptoms have returned. Not as bad as before but present for sure.

Trying to contact Vet to see if I should continue the Oxytetracycline injections and or switch to something like Tylosin.

Not good.

TWG

 

[TexasWineGuy]

Update Monday 10-7-19:

I am going to treat all 4 of them with the Tylosin by adding it to their water supply. Just dosed it so today is Day 1 Tylosin. I will treat for 7 days.

Oddly enough that one "infected" hen has clear eyes this AM.

Also, first cool front today! Will only be mid-70's for a high today instead of the last month of mid 90's.

TWG

 

[Eggcessive]

I had a hen once who had a feathered face, beard, and tufts who would have foam in her eyes, but it would come and go. She never had any other symptoms.

 

[TexasWineGuy]

I had a hen once who had a feathered face, beard, and tufts who would have foam in her eyes, but it would come and go. She never had any other symptoms.

Did you treat this symptom, or did she recover on her own?

TWG

 

[Eggcessive]

She nevr stopped having it on occasion. It was more often on cold days. I gave some Tylan for 5 days, but it persisted. She never had sneezing, congestion, eyelid swelling or any other symptoms. She always felt fine, ate and drank. One day, she just died when she was about 5.

 

[TexasWineGuy]

Update Friday 10-18-19:

The hens have been off the Tylosin since this past Monday and all are looking good. No symptoms from the previously sick hen.

I do not have the swab culture results back yet, but that should be soon.

Question: The sick hen was originally given 5 days of injections of Oxytetracycline, then I went to Tylosin in the water for all of them. The hen continued to lay eggs for the first 2 days during the injections, but has not laid a single egg since then, about 10 days.

Is this due to all the stress of the injections possibly?

The other 3 hens are laying regularly.

TWG

 

[Eggcessive]

It is hard to say, but if you read about most respiratory diseases, they all can cause a reduction in laying. In the link below, you can read about MG, infectious bronchitis, infectious coryza, and ILT symptoms:
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

 

[TexasWineGuy]

Update 10-20-19:

Culture swab came back as positive for Mycoplasma G.

I have read from several sources that it's not uncommon for a backyard flock to carry MG, so for now we will do nothing to the hens but watch. If they show symptoms we will treat again, but IF the frequency of the symptoms becomes too often, we will cull all of them, burn and disinfect, and start over from chicks.

Time will tell.

TWG

 

[Eggcessive]

I was suspecting that it would be positive, but sorry that it was confirmed in the testing. I agree with your plans to see what happens. You may or may not have problems with another outbreak, but they tend to happen around times of severe weather (Dec, January,February,) and during molting. MG outbreaks can be manageable with Tylan, oxytetracycline, doxycycline, or Denagard, and closing your flock. Their are vaccines available for new birds. Hopefully, you can continue to enjoy your birds. Once they are all gone, you would be able to get healthy baby chicks and start over with no problems, since MG will only stay alive for about 3-4 days when birds are gone.

 

[TexasWineGuy]

Minor Update 10-24-19:

The hen that was sick, and currently symptom-free, still has not laid any eggs for at least the last 2 weeks. Reminder that we started out giving her shots in the breast for the first 5 days before switching to Tylosin in the water supply.

Is this halt in egg production still due to the stress of getting shots maybe?

Her behavior is also different than before. She USED to be the lead hen, but now no longer leads. When we let them out to forage she lags behind the other 3 now and then follows them after a brief time lagging behind on her own. Odd.

Normal? Abnormal? Thoughts?

TWG