Gunky, leaky bubbly eyes...

[mrsturnwald]

I started with 9 chickens who seemed very happy and healthy. They all roamed the backyard during the day, and went to their coop at night. Last Friday evening when putting them up for the night, we noticed one of our girls eyes was a little crusty and swollen, and obviously bothering her. Prior to this I had noticed that a few of them (including her) had what I described as a cough... but I truly didn't think anything of it given how hot it is in this Phoenix summer (which is also why I hadn't been too surprised about the lack of eggs either). So we noted the eye thing and said we'd keep an eye on her. Come Saturday morning though, both of her eyes were gunky, swollen and crusted shut. She didn't jump down from the nesting box where she'd slept and seemed pretty distraught. I did some researching but couldn't seem to find an ailment that quite matched her symptoms so to help her as best I could, I took a warm wet cloth out there to try to release some of the stuff from her eyes. She was not having it. So, since I didn't want nor expect her to roam round that day, I separated her and have had her in a dog crate in the shade since. On Sunday, my husband went and got some Duramyacin-10 and we have been administering it to all the girls. We've also been keeping the others in the coop to better be able to keep an eye on them. By Tuesday, both of the quarantined chicken's eyes were open and lovely looking, though she wasn't much interested in food (and hasn't really seemed so still) I noticed yesterday though that her left eye was looking a little leaky again. And when I say leaky, I mean there is fluid collecting in such a way that it drip from her face and she is constantly shaking her head to get it off. I also noticed that one of the other girls' eyes is looking a little moist... Not near as bad but still something I am concerned about. I will also mention that when I went to go add more antibiotic to the water yesterday morning, one of the chickens (neither that I've mentioned yet) had died in the night. She had seemed totally fine prior.

We intend to keep them ALL on antibiotics for a minimum of 10 days.

So my questions are:
Do I separate the other one that I'm noticing issues with?
What could this be? Do I need to consider removing the sick ones from the flock permanently?
If they do start laying again, how long should we wait after they are off antibiotics to eat the eggs?

Thanks in advanced!

 

[Eggcessive]

This is probably a fairly serious respiratory disease such as mycoplasma (MG), coryza, infectious bronchitis, among others. Tylan 50 (not 200) is an antibiotic that is given as a shot (better) or orally, and is in the cattle section of the feed store. I would give 1/2 ml. for a regular hen (1/2 ml for small/banty) as a shot into the breast muscle daily for 3 days. If you can't do shots give same amount by mouth for 7 days. Here is a link for information:http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

 

[mrsturnwald]

Thanks for your reply! How does that effect the eggs? I keep all my chickens for laying so I want to make sure that I will still be able to consume the eggs...

 

[Araucana16]

If you are very worried about the eggs, try maybe separating her as she heals and then if she lays eggs, I wouldn't eat them... but the others not getting the meds will have perfectly safe eggs.

 

[mrsturnwald]

It was recommended that we medicate all of them just in case the others had it...

 

[Eggcessive]

Actually, I am not sure about egg withdrawal with Tylan since it is mostly used in cattle. I would think as soon as they are off it, it would be fine, but I will try to find out. I have only heard to not use eggs when they are on wormers. Maybe others will chime in.

 

[Eggcessive]

http://www.scbt.com/datasheet-362084.html This says 24 hour withdrawal. Also, I read that oral treatment should be for 5 days instead of 7. IInjections should still be for 3 days.