*graphic* 14 kw old with bad eye infection

[SteffyK]

First off, if you are squeamish, these pics are not for you, but I wanted to share this and see if anyone had any ideas what happened.

This bird was fine the previous day. Yesterday I noticed it only because she wandered near the fence and happened to turn towards me for a second. I had been sitting there watching the birds play and scratch and as soon as I saw that eye, I knew I had to get to her. Once I was inside the pen, it took about 10 minutes to find her. The youngsters have been in the big coop for about 6 days and its quite busy in there.

The eye and sinus cavity were so swollen, her upper beak was out of joint and she couldnt close her mouth, nor eat or drink. Her tongue was so dry, it was stuck to the roof of her mouth. The other eye was starting to swell as well.

I assembled all the items I had on hand, clean lukewarm water ( no saline in the house) antibiotic ointment, towels, small needlenose pliers, Qtips.

After taking the pictures, I tried rinsing the eye. There was no pus. Rinsing didnt change anything. I wiped at the eye and nostrils, and other than causing her pain, nothing came off on the towel. It was very hard, compacted in there. I used the pliers to remove some debris that was stuck to her beak. I tried putting a drop of water in her mouth, but it just dripped back out.

I held and cuddled and cooed, and after about an hour, my hubby came out, took a look and said there was no saving her.

I didnt argue, because she is just a 'meat' chicken to us, not like some of our other breeds, but I still feel guilty. We kinda ended up with these red sex links for extremely cheap, so we were planning on culling them in the fall. I just feel so bad for her.

I dont know what caused it, hubby thinks a spider or bug bite, but it could also have been the flood we had. If she got something in there during the flood before she was rescued and put in a house, that could have been the cause too.

With it not being pussy or runny, I just don't know what we could have done for her...Did we do the right thing?


HEAD ON PHOTO

THE EYE

ANOTHER HEAD ON SHOT

 

[PurpleChicken]

Did the other chickens have contact with her?

There are several different diseases that could have caused that and most
spread easily.

Culling is fine, I would have done the same, but now I'm concerned with your
other birds. You are going to need to watch them and not bring any other
birds in or out for at least 30 days.

DO NOT MEDICATE any of your birds now. You will need to see if this spread
and by medicating them you can suppress the symptoms.


ChooksChick's disease list: http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pwhjQ6Yng877iz_JNiCN1IQ
She did a great job compiling this.

 

[SteffyK]

All the birds have been together for about 6 days, but all the youngsters have been together for all their lives.

I have been checking the other birds 3 times a day, and so far, no one else has an eye problem, but I'll be diligent with it.

Only scheduled meds this week is a vitamin water for tomorrow. I usually do that once a week.

And the next Sulmet dose (3 day preventive) isn't for another week.

 

[PurpleChicken]

When you said "rescued" I thought it was a chicken you rescued and
threw in with your other birds. Sorry about that.


Something caused(obviously) but if none of your others show any symptoms
I wouldn't worry about it.


You did the right thing by culling. Some folks may have attempted to nurse
the chicken and I completely respect that, but I've learned from my experience
and others that once a chicken is that sick culling is the best option.

 

[SteffyK]

Thank you on the culling, I knew in my mind it was the right thing to do, but heart was breaking....

I'm still going to keep close tabs on the rest just in case, I have about 40 youngsters, some keepers, some freezers, and with our recent losses to a predator, I'm kinda down in the dumps.

 

[PurpleChicken]

Quote:
Steff, I don't know if you have been following my MG thread but I can completely
relate with you on culling and losses.

 

[dlhunicorn]

Trichomoniasis is (like cocci) a protozoan disease that can be the cause of these symptom (like PC said it could be any number of things and without close observation and knowledge of the symptoms before it got so bad it is hard to even guess which one it might be)
Please do a search on that and you might also consider getting some OXINE and misting in your coop with that regularly for the next month. Clean and disinfect your coop and replace all bedding and such.... dont use straw (aspergillosis can also cause those symptoms).

 

[starryeyes]

We did the same with a polish chick the other day. We got hit by a freak storm and they are about 6 weeks old. They are not that bright LOL and stood in the rain. My dd went to check on them after the storm and one was shaking so we put them in the brooder box again with a heat lamp he got worse and no symptoms other then looking tired and not eating. Then he could barely stand up hubby put him down and the other polish are still in brooder box away from the others. So far they apear fine but after reading purples story I am not taking chances. You did the right thing

Starry