Help: chicken with swollen wattles

[Polloloco86]

I noticed yesterday that her wattles were swollen. She is 7 mos old, a Plymouth Rock. The others look fine. She walks fine, the comb looks fine. She makes a funny head twist motion like she’s trying to swallow something that’s stuck. I have her isolated but no clue what happened.

 

[RossAcres]

So, my first thought was an injury of some kind, like cauliflower ear. BUT if she's "swallowing" I believe she may have eaten a wasp or bee. It may have stung her when she was trying to eat it.

 

[Altairsky]

Google for Fowl cholera, it could be it

 

[Polloloco86]

Google for Fowl cholera, it could be it

That was my worry. My mom just picked up antibiotics. The rest of the flock is fine so far and we’re watching it. Bleach is in our future

 

[Polloloco86]

So, my first thought was an injury of some kind, like cauliflower ear. BUT if she's "swallowing" I believe she may have eaten a wasp or bee. It may have stung her when she was trying to eat it.

Both sides though?

 

[RossAcres]

Both sides though?

I've seen it before, so yes. Even when dogs eat bees, their whole face swells even if they were stung on one side.

 

[Chicken_Labyrinth_Seer]

have you introduced any new birds recently? I'd suspect Fowl Cholera also. the head motion is becuase it's affecting her ears. Keep her separated from the others & keep a close eye on them too.

 

[Polloloco86]

have you introduced any new birds recently? I'd suspect Fowl Cholera also. the head motion is becuase it's affecting her ears. Keep her separated from the others & keep a close eye on them too.

No new birds. There’s a younger batch in the coop too but they went out weeks ago. And I’ve had them all since day old. She’s separated from the others; no one else looks sick; we bleached all feeders and waterers. The sick one is getting penicillin. What else can I do?

 

[Chicken_Labyrinth_Seer]

No new birds. There’s a younger batch in the coop too but they went out weeks ago. And I’ve had them all since day old. She’s separated from the others; no one else looks sick; we bleached all feeders and waterers. The sick one is getting penicillin. What else can I do?

Review the poultrydvm website for recommendations is what I would do. I hope it resolve quickly for you.

 

[Eggcessive]

Although fowl cholera and coryza can be causes of swollen wattles, I would explore lesser serious possibilities first. A tick bite or a wasp sting or a bump/peck injury may cause swelling of wattles. The left side looks blue, and that is typical of a tick bite, because they inject a blood thinner. I would either try a dose of Benadryl 1/2 of a 25 mg tablet given orally or watch it. Let us know how it looks tomorrow.