HELP!!! What's wrong with my chicken??

[ChloeAlicia7]

 

[ChloeAlicia7]

 

[ChloeAlicia7]

She seems to be eating and drinking but do you think it's worth putting some of the oxymav in a seringe and give it to her?

 

[Eggcessive]

She may have mycoplasma (MG) so I would give her the oxytetracycline. It may treat symptoms, but it does not cure the disease if it is MG. MG is a chronic respiratory disease. Do you have the dosage? I'm not familiar with that brand, but it is for mixing in the water usually.

 

[ChloeAlicia7]

Do you think I can put her back in the coop with the others or are they likely to contract it as well? Whilst she will remain a carrier, will she ever recover from it?

 

[Eggcessive]

I would probably hold her out of the coop until her symptoms are mostly gone, but her flock mates have probably been exposed already from the same source she was. I would use a crate or cage with food and water to set her out with the others so they can stay in touch when she is doing better, and then gradually let her out to free range with them.

 

[Wild--Star]

Looks like MG to me due to the bubbly eyes. Antibiotics is the best thing to use when symptoms spring up and to isolate her if you have other hens and make sure she is warm. If you need more info on MG there are plenty of good sites and threads on this forum as well as very knowledgeable people or you can ask me. I had a hen with it and when I posted a thread about it the people who responded were very insightful. Just know that it is chronic and symptoms will spring up when stressed and it is a disease that can and will spread to other hens. Symptoms are best treated with antibiotics. I have oxymav and home but I havent had much luck with it only because my hens were too sick at the time they were using it but see how it works for you. There are other antibiotics you can go on if it doesnt do much good and just ensure you are careful and slow if you choose to syringe feed.
Hope you hen feels better soon. It can be very upsetting when they are unwell.

 

[ChloeAlicia7]

It is so upsetting seeing her like this

I have isolated her and the eye that was initially infected is almost completely clear now but it's moved onto the other eye. Her nostril and the odour have also improved dramatically today as it's no longer yellow which is good. I think I'll keep her isolated from my other girls until the other eye has cleared and slowly introduce her back to her pen but I'm now so worried as she'll remain a carrier that the other girls will contract it. Is this likely? I don't understand how she contracted it to start with though? From the threads and research I've done her symptoms reflect coryza but I'm no expect so I can't be certain. I only got my girls October last year so I'm a total newbie and wondering what I did wrong for her to contract this

 

[Wild--Star]

Ah you poor thing. I know the feeling, being a first time chicken owner is hard. They are such fragile little creature and you really do get attached. People make out theyre such easy pets but really its not that simple.
I havent personally dealt with coyza so I cant be sure but I dont particularly like the sound of the smelly mucus. However, when you read online it seems it can always be 10 different things when it comes to hens so its hard to tell. But its good that the antibiotics seem to be easing it up. I do however know that MG does cause bubbly eyes, due to it being a respiratory disease. And if it is that then to answer your question, if she has been with the flock for this long than they have more than likely already contracted it and are now all carriers. Don't fret, if it is MG, if its treated than it can be managed and often isnt fatal. MG symptoms (like bubbly eyes and sneezing) seem to spring up when a hen is stressed and that can happen so easily. Chickens stress over the smallest things, this can be from change in weather or feed to change in their environment completely. But as soon as they do show these symptoms, put the antibiotics in all of their water. And if its just one hen looking sickly, isolate it and keep it warm. Isolating may not always be ideal for the owner of the hen but it is good so that the hen wont affect the other hens but also so she has a chance to recover in peace and so she doesnt get bullied by the flock for being weak. As for how she contracted it, that could be a number of things. Things like this are often in the air if I remember rightly, she could have well likely already had it when you bought her (unknown to the sellers) and is only just showing signs now. Hens can catch diseases from, being airborn diseases, other chickens with the illness, even dander on the breeze, mosquitoes, other wild birds, from the ground. I could go on. Some people have no troubles, others have their hens constantly ill. Unfortunately I am one with all the troubles. I know its hard when they are like this, especially if they are your little pets but you can only do so much unfortunately.
I will try and link you to a post I put up about my first hen who had MG and you may find some more info from there until you get ore replies on this thread. (Here it is: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/newestpost/1022565 ) but keep looking stuff up on more websites.
Im sorry you are in this situation and I do hope your girl recovers quickly. Try not to stress too much x I know every time I have a hen problem, I come on here and whinge like a baby. I really care for my hens and know how hard it is to see them ill but the people on here are really supportive and so amazing and really know their stuff. Also a word of advice. Apple cider vinegar is great stuff for hens, just put a few drops in their water. Many people swear by it to help with everything chicken, its just good for them in general so i always like to keep some around and add a few drops into the water. Others like to spray hens with water mixed with a few drops of ACV when its hot and its said to help keep parasites away but I wont swear by that. And plain sugar free yogurt is also good for the immune system. There are plenty of helpful herbs for hens!

 

[ChloeAlicia7]

Honestly I would be lost without this forum! The first time one of my silkies went broody I thought she was so ill and I didn't know what to do...little did I know haha. I've learnt so much already and I'm so thankful for people like you that take the time to give advice and share their stories. It's actually so comforting and even to know that others are having the same issues. I'm not sure where you are but I'm just south of Brisbane and last week we had an awful lot of rain and storm roll through so I'm thinking she could've contracted it from that? I mean it was enough to stress me out so I can't imagine how stressed my girls must've been while it was passing through. We've also had an abundance of rain over the last week or so so that probably hasn't helped either. Wow I hadn't heard that about apple cider vinegar thank you! I'll definitely start doing that. thank you so so much to you and Eggcessive for all of your help and guidance so far. I really would be lost otherwise