Facial / comb swelling in 21 week old pullet

[DobieLover]

Can you get a picture of the left side where the hole is? Is she having any other symptoms that you notice? Is there an avian vet near you that you could see? Since the others are seeming to attack her, and she is hiding in the nest box, she may have something wrong with her. Since she could be suffering from some sort of sting, I would try giving her 1/4 to a 1/2 of a 25 mg benadryl tablet if you have any. As far as antibiotics go, Baytril is good for many types of bacterial infections. But if it is a virus, antibiotics will not help.I wish I could be more helpful.

I have Benadryl. How on earth do I give a 1/4 caplet to a chicken?
We will get her back out of the isolation coop, trim some of the feathers and try to get a better picture of the hole.
We don't have an avian vet in the area but one of the vets at the clinic I go to owns chickens. I'll put a call into her in the morning and ask if she'll see her.
If that does not pan out, where can I get Baytril? It looks like I would need a prescription.

 

[DobieLover]

There is something called swollen head syndrome or avian pneumovirus, which can affect chickens and turkeys. It is rare, but it can cause swelling of the head and face. I doubt that this is what she has, but wanted to mention the possibility. I would separate her in a dog crate with her own food and water, and watch her. The benadryl is sometimes helpful in tick bites which cause swelling of the face or wattles. I really hope that she doesn’t die, but if that would happen, you can try to get a diagnosis with a necropsy by your state vet if the body is refrigerated. This link has the contact info for most states:
http://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm

I hope it doesn't come to that.
She has already been separated and is in an isolation coop with water. No food yet as it is dark and she won't need it until morning.

 

[llombardo]

We're you able to clean the hole? I've had a dogs paw pad swell like that and I used both vetericyn and colliadial silver. Tonite I had one of the chickens with a hole in the toe(most likely hardware cloth). I cleaned it up with colliadial silver, I checked it two hours later and it was already healing up, I expect it to be healed by the morning.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would break the tablet in half or thirds, and crush it into some food. You may also place the section of the tablet into the beak for her to swallow. She may be happier if she can see the other chickens in a crate. The baytril can be prescribed by the vet, or you can find it online with dosages in the first 3 posts here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/baytril-enrofloxacin-sources.959119/

Most give the injectable baytril orally rather than mix it in the water.

 

[DobieLover]

We're you able to clean the hole? I've had a dogs paw pad swell like that and I used both vetericyn and colliadial silver. Tonite I had one of the chickens with a hole in the toe(most likely hardware cloth). I cleaned it up with colliadial silver, I checked it two hours later and it was already healing up, I expect it to be healed by the morning.

It's till tough to see even after clipping the feathers.
We cleaned it out with a Vetericyn plus soaked swab then sprayed it well with more Vetericyn.
I crushed 1/2 a 25 mg benadryl tablet and mixed it with 1 ml water and syringed most of that into her beak and she drank it.
Her head and cheeks feel warm.
I really think she has an infection.
I feel so awful! I missed this. She is always such a little loaner I didn't pay it too much attention that she separated herself from the flock yesterday and today. She still went out free ranging with them, just stayed a little more to herself than usual and came back to rest under the porch, deck and on a log in the run.

 

[DobieLover]

I would break the tablet in half or thirds, and crush it into some food. You may also place the section of the tablet into the beak for her to swallow. She may be happier if she can see the other chickens in a crate. The baytril can be prescribed by the vet, or you can find it online with dosages in the first 3 posts here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/baytril-enrofloxacin-sources.959119/

Most give the injectable baytril orally rather than mix it in the water.

I've been going to my vet for almost 2 decades and can usually get whatever I ask for with my cat and dogs. I hope that the doctor that I need to talk to is working tomorrow as I think she would readily agree to get me what I need.
Wynonna is still very perky. She tried to eat her feathers that fell onto my DH's knee as he was holding her. It looks so bad though.

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Bear hugs! Hoping your sweet girl makes a speedy recovery!

 

[Eggcessive]

Her swelling looks so much worse on the right side. I think you are doing as well as anyone can do. My vet who doesn’t treat chickens also is helpful if I need something special. I just haven’t had to ask for something about the chickens, but he did say that I could get a fecal test.

The swelling Wynona has is not typical at all. Facial swelling is common in respiratory and sinus infections, but the head swelling is uncommon. Many times we don’t know what is wrong until a necropsy is done. Cornell is a great place to get a necropsy. They have some of the best info on chickens that I have seen online. Hopefully, the benadryl will help some.

 

[DobieLover]

Bear hugs! Hoping your sweet girl makes a speedy recovery!

Thanks. I hope she recovers. The swelling is just so bad. And the warmth in the area really has me worried. I guess there isn't much more I can do for her tonight. She is safe and comfortable.
I'll post a picture(s) of her in the morning and get a hold of my vet when they open at 8:00.

 

[DobieLover]

Her swelling looks so much worse on the right side. I think you are doing as well as anyone can do. My vet who doesn’t treat chickens also is helpful if I need something special. I just haven’t had to ask for something about the chickens, but he did say that I could get a fecal test.

The swelling Wynona has is not typical at all. Facial swelling is common in respiratory and sinus infections, but the head swelling is uncommon. Many times we don’t know what is wrong until a necropsy is done. Cornell is a great place to get a necropsy. They have some of the best info on chickens that I have seen online. Hopefully, the benadryl will help some.

Let's hope that I won't need a necropsy done.
That head swelling is why I think she may have a rather bad infection. I'm stunned she isn't acting more like she is in pain. I know chickens can be stoic but I'd certainly be letting the world know how felt if my head looked like that.