Help! Swollen Chicken Eyes

[calkins5]

Does anyone know what this could be? Both of my hen's eyelids look swollen, maybe whitish in color and also look like she can't close them all the way like part of the eylelids are gone. They both look injured with some dried blood and crusty, yellowish stuff. Her nose looks a little crusty as well. I've never had a chicken look like this before and I'm not sure how to treat it. Any advice would be great! Thanks in advance!

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[Eggcessive]

Welcome to BYC. She looks like she may have conjunctivitis, and along with the nasal secretions, those are signs of a respiratory disease, such as mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) or coryza. Other common resp diseases are infectious bronchitis and ILT, but bacteria such as E.coli can also cause eye infections. Has she been pecked around her eyes that you can tell? I would hold her in my lap and apply some warm wet compresses to her eye. Then clean out any secretions, and apply some Vetericyn eye gel or Terramycin eye ointment, both found at feed stores. Until then you can use saline. Most antibiotics are now only available through a vet, but you still can find Tylan 50 injectable. It can be given orally or by injection into the breast muscle 1/4 inch deep. You will need syringes with needles to withdraw the medicine; then remove the needle to give it orally. 1 ml twice a day for a 5 pound chicken for 5 days is the average dosage. Here is a link with symptoms of common diseases including MG and coryza:
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/disea...tion-mg-chronic-respiratory-disease-chickens/
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

 

[calkins5]

Thank you so much for your reply!

The eyelids look as though they've been pecked at but I couldn't be sure if they actually were. Her eyes were more watery yesterday with actual white pus. I'm wondering if she scratched at her own eyes to get rid of the pus. I'll definitely go get both of the medicine you recommended.

Should I separate her from the flock until treatment is complete?

 

[Eggcessive]

I would separate her if possible, since it is contagious, but they may have already been exposed. If you can only find Tylan 200, it will still work, is 4 times as strong, but much more$$$.