Got a chicken with a large puffed eye.

[Mr Sparkles]

We have a rooster named George. He is our main breeding frizzle rooster and he has had this eye issue for several months. I thought it was just a bee sting but it is not going away. As of this photo taken today, it looks worse. I have been reading posts trying to find out what this could be and if it is treatable by me, or if this is a vet visit issue.

Background info that may help.

He has been with other chickens with this eye issue for several months. No other chickens have "caught" it.
His eye is watery but has no discharge. No bad smell.
He acts normal. Talking trash to the ladies. Eating fine, drink fine.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[GitaBooks]

Glad to hear that he is feeling okay, even though it looks pretty bad.

Other people have had chickens with similar symptoms that were treated. It could be caused from an irritant or allergy such as dust, a peck injury, or perhaps poking it on a stick or some wire. I've heard that some people use baytril and it works in a few weeks, though this was just one example.

People suggest bathing the eye twice a day with a mild salt and water solution. A teaspoon in a pint of tepid water has been suggested.

Could it be a growth?

Hope this helps. Sorry I couldn't help more.


Best of luck to you!

 

[Eggcessive]

Has George ever had eye drainage or crusting, nasal drainage, coughing, sneezing, or rattles/wheezes? Respiratory disease such as MG or coryza could be possible, but tumor or cellulitis may also be. Cellulitis can result from a sting of some sort. Cellulitis can benefit from a strong antibiotic which you can get from a local vet.

 

[Mr Sparkles]

His eye has never had any drainage or crusting, he has never had any nasal drainage, coughing, sneezing, or rattles/wheezes. Over all he is a healthy chicken with a puffed up eye. Because he is healthy I will wait a bit longer to see some more recommendations before we act and take him to the vet. I put some nerosporin on the puffed parts of the eye (not on his eye) last night. It does not seem to hurt him to touch it. Going to check on him now.

Thank you for the replies!

 

[microchick]

Does it feel warm to the touch? Bet it does.

There is no obvious discharge from the eye and the swelling looks to be isolated to the tissues around the orbit. No nasal discaharge or difficulty breathing to indicate an infection in a sinus or a viral or bacterial infection that is systemic or isolated to the upper respiratory system.

Some times it is easier to list what it isn't and use the process of elimination to come up with a possible diagnosis.

When in doubt treat for an active cellulitis that has worsened. He could have been stung by an insect or sustained a peck by another bird. If it was one of my roos I would be isolating him and treat with mild epsom salt and warm water compresses 4 times a day, use an antibiotic drop in his eye to cover that area and treat him with a systemic broad spectrum antibiotic to cover the possibilty of cellulitis or other infection.

You need to bring a vet in on this to make sure you are using the right medicines to knock this down for your boy. Often this just goes away with treatment and without knowing whatever caused it.

Good luck, hope he gets back to normal for you.

microchick/retired optical nurse