HELP Our hen has a swollen eye! Swelled shut, smells like infection

[Snack Giver]

BTW In the meantime she is isolated (in our house) and is getting all her prescriptions as directed. No decisions yet. Just looking for realistic answers.

 

[sinkorswim]

OK my hen's bloodtest came back. The vet assistant called and said she has Mycoplasma Gallisepticum. Her treatment is to complete the next 2 days of injectable tylosin and then switch to oral. She gets 200mg twice a day injected into her breast muscle. The eye ointment is called neopolydex. it goes directly onto her infected eye twice a day too.

She has been more active today, eating and generally more normal. But her eye is huge. It has even gotten a little bigger. I waited all day to hear from the doc. She had somebody else call me who was frantically in a hurry to hang up.

I can't say I felt better after talking to my expensive vet, either yesterday. Both times now I have been on the phone they try to get rid of me in 1-2 minutes. Not helping me understand Mycoplasma Gallisepticum or what to expect. I must say as a biz owner myself for 12 years, I would never do that to customers who just paid $240 yesterday. I would also feel if i were a vet, I personally would want my customers who are upset by the illness of a loved one to get my attention for a few minutes. But honestly I'm unable to go anywhere else. This is a bird clinic. Their yelp page says they are professional, but that they are very expensive. I knew that going in. I'm just surprised how I'm not getting a caring person talking to me, just 3rd hand info and now please hang the f--k up thank u.

Mycoplasma Gallisepticum is a death sentence of sorts.Its a no win situation.I am so sorry.Your hen may survive her current infection but even if she does she will always be a carrier.Your other birds are most likely carriers now also.They may get sick,they may die of old age.You just dont know.Any bird you introduce will be introduced to the mycoplasma if they are strong they will become carriers,if not they could become sick.And chickens near yours will be exposed also.I had a friend who went through this.It was suggested to her that she cull all her birds,burn down her coops,wait a few years and try to start over.It was devastating.She elected to keep going,she continued to breed birds and sell birds I cant agree with her choice as she passed it all over town.But for the most part most of her birds seemed fine.She only had a bird come up sick every now and then and she would quickly cull off the bird and hide the evidence per say.I am so sorry.I am so sorry about what you are dealing with as far as the vet as concerned also.
addicted2chickens

 

[mama dixie]

so I have a question here. I have been giving my flock the tylan in the water to protect the rest of the flock. if I were to not introduce anymore and let them run there cycle then sanitize the coop would I really need to burn it down? I have 30 birds and give eggs to friends and family and now I am not sure mine is this, but my question is, again do you really think you need to kill them all and burn down the coop. can you still eat the eggs after you are no longer medicating? is this transmittable to people or dogs. and how the h### did my birds get this. I am so care full. I will chose to keep a closed flock till they run there cycle, and if need bee I will destroy the coop and will move on. I need to go to a vet to have one tested to be sure this is even the case. I just know I have the eye thing in a bird and I had the eye thing in one a while ago like a year ago. each case could be just a scratch or a weird thing, but I always treat for the worst and isolate.

I am sad because I wanted to sell my birds off spring but I will be responsible save up and get one tested I think I may just cull the one with the bad eye right now I am sad about this....

 

[sinkorswim]

You have been giving Tylan to the rest of the flock to prevent an active infection.Like the swollen eye and such in the one hen.The tylan does not stop a bird from contracting or even curing MG infections.The only way to know 100% if the bird carriers MG is to have the birds tested.And that gets pricey.
I think burning down the coop is extreme,I also think waiting for a prolonged period of time before getting new birds is extreme.There are different variations or strains of MG but from what I understand MG dies without a host in less than a week.So I think a very well sanitized coop would be fine.Burning down the coop would guarantee it but a bit extreme.
MG can be passed through the egg.So if the parent bird had MG than thats where your MG may have come from.MG can be transmitted through wild birds.So if a wild bird who was a carrier or sick visited your birds you could have gotten MG that way.MG also can be passed short distances through airborne transmission.So do you have chickens near you?It may have come from there.BUT keep in mind where ever your birds came from.Even if they had healthy parents some where on the way to your house if they came in contact with an infected bird they could have gotten it then.So your birds could have been carriers since birth or just a few days ago.It just takes a bit of stress or illness for a bird to become sick and show signs of MG.You also have to consider bio security sounds like something from a movie or the government.Sadly its real.You also have to understand that MG could be carried on a vehicle or on someones shoe.If you know someone who has birds that may have come to visit you and or your birds MG can be passed that way.You will never know where your MG came from.The only way to win that battle is to buy from a breeder that has current papers that show their birds have been tested and are free of MG-then have the birds vaccinated.And then do as you have been doing;keeping a clean coop,clean food and water,ect.
Can you keep your birds?SURE.BUT be responsible and careful not to infect someone elses flock.Think of all the ways your birds could have gotten MG,reverse that chain,you could be that source.If you live in an area with a lot of chickens thats harder to do.Are the eggs safe to eat after antibiotics-YES! As far as we know so far MG doesnt effect/infect people.(and dogs)
You considered selling your flock,I am going to sound like a troll (I am so sorry) but could you consider selling them as meat/stew birds?It would stop the MG cycle.
Again I am so sorry,my heart breaks for you.
Christy

 

[mama dixie]

I am going to practice a closed flock. I do not want anyone to get this, if this is what I have, or not. I will get my bird tested, I am going to cull the one that is showing signs ie the bulging eye, it is freaky looking and I just dont know what is causing it. I will keep my birds as pets sell the eggs and just be thankfull not to lose any more than I do. I am sad sad sad... I love beeding them and watching the momies with the babies, but I bet if the birds were given a vote they would not want to spread this thing either. I know I have not even had them tested so I will just say I am being over cautious until I get a clear sign. can I take any bird in to be tested? I am thinking one of my older calmer birds. it would of been exposed if any of them have been so would that be the right choice. I was just about to start breeding and seeling so I am very thankfull to God for opining my eyes through you all here. I will stay dillegent and if I get the test results will share them with you. the only thing I can think is I bought eggs online and could it have been introduced that way? my birds do free range so maybe they just got in contact with a carier that way as well. kinda moot point now,




thank you again for all the info..

 

[dawg53]

MG stays in the environment for 3 days. It is not transmittable to humans nor dogs. Dont burn coops. Different antibiotics have different withdrawal times and some dont have any withdrawal times. If antibiotics are given or prescribed, ensure you inquire about the withdrawal times. Eggs are safe to eat as long as there isnt a withdrawal time. Depopulation, then waiting about a week ensures a MG free environment. While waiting during that week's time for your new birds; santizing waterers, feeders, incubators, brooders, will ensure the next flock will be disease free. Keeping a closed flock and practicing biosecurity certainly goes a long way. One thing we sometimes forget are visits to feed stores. What biological germs are brought there on our shoes/clothing...and what we bring home from there can have have deadly consequences. A spray bottle with oxine or bleach on hand will take care of these issues. Personally, I carry a spray bottle of oxine when I go to the feed store or when visiting someone who has chickens. It's always best to have bloodwork/necropsy done to confirm what disease is prevelent.

 

[sinkorswim]

You have a bird that tested positive for MG.Before she was sick she was with the other birds.MG passes by contact,by air,anywhere that hen had been could be infected with MG.So I would say its very possible your entire flock has been infected.She could have or did pass the MG on to other birds.Understand they do not have to show symptoms to be carriers.Let me word it another way,as we speak your birds can be passing it back and forth between each other.You will not see any symptoms until the bird gets very stressed,run down,or sick. (like AIDS virus in humans,many people dont show signs or symptoms for years,some many never show signs but they still have the virus,and some get very sick very quickly) You can test,you may have birds that are negative.BUT if you have 1 bird that tests positive then it is spreading through your flock.You would have to test every bird to be sure.Even if you cull the positive birds you still have MG in the environment and as long as there is a host=a chicken,MG will still spread.
I am not saying to cull the entire flock.I couldnt do it.My birds are my pets.Thats why I can not show it through mere writing but my heart aches for you.You have been put in a near impossible situation.I am saying as long as you are very careful then I agree with a closed flock.Not breeding,no new birds.Enjoy your birds,enjoy the eggs you get.But assume they are all positive or will be in the future.I so wish there was something more I could say-I am so very sorry.
addicted2chickens

 

[chickendaddy'swife]

Hello, I just had written a huge reply about my same problem but was erased when I went to another page to get web site... LOL-anyway I too am in the same boat with my flock, but dawg53 had a suggestion to try DENAGARD, and it seems to offer hope and survival!! so I found this web site QC Supply-www.qcsupply.com and they have the Denagard and I ordered it. Also they have alot of other meds at reasonable prices, and are in Nebraska. So check them out people. Dawg53 thank you for your sugestion of using Denagard, I think I will be able to keep my flock and not have to cull.... I won't get any more chicken till these are gone to chick heaven! Good luck to all and again dawg53 thank you!! Chicken wife

 

[dawg53]

Hello, I just had written a huge reply about my same problem but was erased when I went to another page to get web site... LOL-anyway I too am in the same boat with my flock, but dawg53 had a suggestion to try DENAGARD, and it seems to offer hope and survival!! so I found this web site QC Supply-www.qcsupply.com and they have the Denagard and I ordered it. Also they have alot of other meds at reasonable prices, and are in Nebraska. So check them out people. Dawg53 thank you for your sugestion of using Denagard, I think I will be able to keep my flock and not have to cull.... I won't get any more chicken till these are gone to chick heaven! Good luck to all and again dawg53 thank you!! Chicken wife

Keep in mind it will be treatment for the life of your birds, you must maintain a closed flock. Birds will remain carriers. I highly recommend using oxine to mist over their heads in conjunction with the denegard. You've got to ensure it's a mycoplasma disease they have or the denagard wont work.

 

[chickendaddy'swife]

Yes I know it will be forever, until the last hen is gone. and I will get the oxine, how often to mist them??? should
/or could it be done at nite it their coop?? Where do you get oxine??
You had a very good point about contamination from feed stores,other people's shoes, our shoes, etc. Makes me think... I think my flock got it from the wild bird/piegons that come to our yard. Am saving $$ for a netting to go over the whole yard (wich is huge) but thats the only way to keep them out.Other flocks are more than a block away. I haven't been to anyones flocks,but I have been to the feed store plenty!!
Thanks dawg53!