Eye swollen shut, feathers falling out and possible fever

[Eggcessive]

Doxycycline and ciprofloxacin can treat symptoms of mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG.) But amoxicillin will not. I would keep checking the eye for bubbles or pus or a foreign body twice a day before applying the tobramycin drops. It can be hard to tell if the swollen eye is from a respiratory disease, or from pecking or getting debris into the eye.

The “one-eyed cold” that you mentioned, is probably MG, since usually one eye is affected from conjunctivitis and it can then affect the sinus. That can spread to the other eye. Chickens get viruses, bacterial, and fungal infections.

Here is some reading anout MG:
https://extension.umd.edu/sites/ext... Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) Infecti....pdf

https://thepoultrysite.com/disease-...tion-m-g-chronic-respiratory-disease-chickens

 

[Michael A]

I dont believe she has a respiratory disease. The symptoms arnt there and other birds arnt showing symptoms neither. She mightve been pecked in the eye or near the eye by another bird. There's a pecking order when it comes to feeding time, roosting time etc...
It would be best to continue with the tobramycin twice a day for 5-7 days.
She most likely eats and drinks when others are finished eating. You can observe their behavior after you let them out of the coop first thing in the morning and watch which ones eat first and which ones eat after the head honcho hens eat.
You can always set up another feeder at a different location in your pen, that way the birds lowest in the pecking order get to eat as well.
As far as how the roosting pecking order at night goes, just ensure there's enough roosting space for the amount of birds you have. If there's not enough space between them, there'll be picking and pecking going on. They should have about 12 inches of roost space between them.
Chickens wipe their beaks usually after eating, it's normal. However, I'd like you to open her mouth and see if there are any lesions, bumps, or obstructions and let us know what you see. Hopefully it'll look normal.

Ok thanks. I agree, it doesn’t seem like a respiratory issue.

I am not able to look down her throat because I’m caring for my mom in hospice. But my daughter will
It seems she’s less interested in eating today and is loosing more of her feathers.

this is the third day of medicine in her eye.

I’ll let you know what my daughter reports

 

[Wyorp Rock]

How old is she? She may be molting, that would account for the loss of feathers.

I'm sorry about your Mom.

Have your daughter check the hen's eye really well too, maybe she can see if it was scratched or if she got some debris in there.
Molting birds can be picky eaters at times, you might be able to give her a boost with some poultry vitamins and a treat of eggs. Not sure what's going on with the eye - it might be related or coincidental.

 

[Michael A]

Doxycycline and ciprofloxacin can treat symptoms of mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG.) But amoxicillin will not. I would keep checking the eye for bubbles or pus or a foreign body twice a day before applying the tobramycin drops. It can be hard to tell if the swollen eye is from a respiratory disease, or from pecking or getting debris into the eye.

The “one-eyed cold” that you mentioned, is probably MG, since usually one eye is affected from conjunctivitis and it can then affect the sinus. That can spread to the other eye. Chickens get viruses, bacterial, and fungal infections.

Here is some reading anout MG:
https://extension.umd.edu/sites/extension.umd.edu/files/_docs/programs/poultry/FS-1008 Recognizing and Preventing Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) Infecti....pdf

https://thepoultrysite.com/disease-...tion-m-g-chronic-respiratory-disease-chickens

Thanks for the info,

I’ll look out for it. I don’t think she has MG even though her eye is swollen closed it’s nice and clear. And she is exhibiting no signs of a respiratory infection

I’ll check more carefully for debris in the eye tomorrow

 

[Michael A]

How old is she? She may be molting, that would account for the loss of feathers.

I'm sorry about your Mom.

Have your daughter check the hen's eye really well too, maybe she can see if it was scratched or if she got some debris in there.
Molting birds can be picky eaters at times, you might be able to give her a boost with some poultry vitamins and a treat of eggs. Not sure what's going on with the eye - it might be related or coincidental.

The hen is about 9-10 months old.

 

[dawg53]

Your hen is probably in molt which is normal this time of the year. Just to be sure though, closely inspect her for external parasites, especially around her vent area. Lice are white or off white in color and move quickly through feathers and fluff. Their eggs can be seen on feather shafts. Mites are black or red in color and move slowly or dont move at all.

Another possibility is feather picking. Have you seen other birds picking/pecking at her? Are any of your other birds dropping feathers or fluff as well?

 

[Michael A]

Your hen is probably in molt which is normal this time of the year. Just to be sure though, closely inspect her for external parasites, especially around her vent area. Lice are white or off white in color and move quickly through feathers and fluff. Their eggs can be seen on feather shafts. Mites are black or red in color and move slowly or dont move at all.

Another possibility is feather picking. Have you seen other birds picking/pecking at her? Are any of your other birds dropping feathers or fluff as well?

I think we might be getting close to figuring out what’s going on.

we have no real pecking issues, her feathers are just falling out

BUT

her right nostril has black gunk growing on it.

Same side as her swollen eye.

That doesn’t look good... any ideas???

 

[dawg53]

Did your daughter look inside her mouth?

 

[Eggcessive]

The black around her nostril may be dirt that has stuck to nasal secretions. That sounds more like a respiratory infection, such as MG. I would get the tylosin powder for the water.

 

[Michael A]

The black around her nostril may be dirt that has stuck to nasal secretions. That sounds more like a respiratory infection, such as MG. I would get the tylosin powder for the water.

I have it on order but won’t be here for a few days