Hanging their head

[Elayna Erdmier]

Hi there, I know this isn't going to give a whole lot of detail, but I'm not home to see it. Before I left for my trip 4 days ago, I had one chicken who was making a weird noise, which I think was it coughing, 1 with a swollen eye (which I thought the rooster just scratched while trying to mount but now I think it was more of some kind of secretion from that eye, but the other eye was totally normal) . My chickens are 4.5 months old. I just got a call from my boyfriend saying that the one making a funny nose had died and others didn't look good (hanging their heads while perching, not eating, coughing and sneezing). They have been in their coop for over a month, it's 8x 12 and there are 15 birds in there with 3x6 drop down windows on the sides that are constantly open for air flow. (Working on building the outdoor run) They have been on the same feed for awhile and get weeds from the garden on a regular basis. Does this sound like something they ate or is it a disease. I'm leaning more towards a viral disease. Any input on what it is and how to treat it would be greatly appreciated. Driving home as fast as I can and will be home in two hours. Please help! View attachment 1070191
These pictures are of the chickens eye before I left, the totally closed one was in the morning and the partially open was the next day.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Sounds like a respiratory infection of some sort. Things like wet bedding can cause problems. You said you have good ventilation but being summer it might not be enough. What type of bedding am I seeing? You need to see a vet to get antibiotics for chickens now.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

4.5 months old.....hanging their heads while perching, not eating, coughing and sneezing......been in their coop for over a month, it's 8x 12 and there are 15 birds in there with 3x6 drop down windows......Working on building the outdoor run

Hi @Elayna Erdmier Welcome To BYC

Can you post a clearer photo of the scabs and eyes?
It sounds like your flock possibly has a respiratory illness. But I see some scabs(?) around the eye in the photo as well?

You don't have a location in your profile, so we can only assume your are in the US where the weather is hot.

If the chickens are in the coop 24/7, then some of their respiratory issues could stem from lack of ventilation - ammonia buildup from poop and dust from feed/bedding in closed spaces can cause coughing, sneezing, swollen eyes. Also the scabs around the eyes could be an indication of pecking or even possibly Fowl Pox.

If at all possible, have a way to get them outside in a run or fenced area for fresh air.

Offer them fresh cool, clean water. You can add some poultry vitamins a couple of times a week.

If the eye is still swollen and has pus in it - flush with saline then apply some Terramycin eye ointment or Vetericyn eye gel being careful not to disturb the scabs.

If they don't improve after moving them to fresh air and cleaning up any excess droppings in the coop then you may need to consider treating with antibiotics. Even if it is a respiratory disease, antibiotics will only help with secondary infections.

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

 

[Elayna Erdmier]

Hi there, thank you for responding! I found a liquid that I've been washing all their eyes with, morning and night, and then probiotics in their water. They are doing a lot better! I still have one that's iffy but both of hers eyes were shut and now one is at least open. I've been picking her up to give water but I still can't get her to take food. She takes really big breathes. I have the door to the coop open so most the others go out, and she just sits in the doorway but at least she's getting some air. The photos are of her.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Poor girl, she looks like she's struggling.

I don't normally recommend antibiotics right away unless there are more symptoms, but you may want to give her some Tylan50 to see if she will improve. Injectable Tylan50 can be found at most feed stores. The dosage is 1 cc or ml per 5lbs of weight, given 2x a day for 5days. You can give it orally or as an injection into the breast muscle 1/4 inch deep.

Offer her some poultry vitamins like Poultry Nutri-Drench or Rooster Booster Poultry Cell. If she is not eating her chick starter, then try giving it wet. Some chickens when ill don't like their normal feed, so she if she will take some chopped egg or tuna.

I hope she gets better soon, keep us posted.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Something I notice in your photo is her beak is a bit long, which could indicate she's been off for a while, and has something else going on that makes her more susceptible than the others. Generally younger birds keep them filed down and I only see overgrowth from older birds, or birds that are unwell.

 

[Elayna Erdmier]

Thanks for all the input! Everyone got better quickly after my last post and Gwen, the little hen in the photo, is doing great as well. I kept wiping her eyes, dunking her beak in the water, and then I broke open an egg and dipped her beak in the yoke until she realized she loved it and ate a lot. I did that for about a week and then she had so much energy she'd only eat a little and then fly off my lap to go hang out with all her friends. As much as I wanted her to eat more, I was happy she had all that energy. Thanks again for all the help!