Hen has one eye closed

[bhawk-23]

I came home from vacation this afternoon to find a sneezing hen with nasal discharge, another with her eye half to fully closed and weird looking poop.
The care they received was definitely NOT what they are used to and they do seem a bit out of sorts and stressed. I'll post a couple pics to hopefully get some opinions on her eye and the poop.

Thank you!
Edit to add this yellow poop with some red. It's the only one I could find like it.

 

[azygous]

Does the person who came to care for your chickens also have a flock of their own? I'm wondering if they tracked some disease from their flock in to your flock. This is the most common what poultry disease is passed around. Let's hope is a simple respiratory illness, but it will remain dormant in your flock after this bout is healed and can emerge again any time the chickens are stressed.

First, I suggest strongly to get a fecal float test on a couple of random poop samples. Most vets can do the test in just an hour in their office lab. It will show if there are worms or coccidia present in the stools and you will then know what to treat for.

The respiratory symptoms can be treated by Tylan 50 which is give orally by syringe or Tylosin powder which can go in the water. You may be able to get it from Tractor Supply so call them or order from their website. Or you can order it here. https://homelabvet.com/product/tyclosin-500-30g/

 

[bhawk-23]

Does the person who came to care for your chickens also have a flock of their own? I'm wondering if they tracked some disease from their flock in to your flock. This is the most common what poultry disease is passed around. Let's hope is a simple respiratory illness, but it will remain dormant in your flock after this bout is healed and can emerge again any time the chickens are stressed.

First, I suggest strongly to get a fecal float test on a couple of random poop samples. Most vets can do the test in just an hour in their office lab. It will show if there are worms or coccidia present in the stools and you will then know what to treat for.

The respiratory symptoms can be treated by Tylan 50 which is give orally by syringe or Tylosin powder which can go in the water. You may be able to get it from Tractor Supply so call them or order from their website. Or you can order it here. https://homelabvet.com/product/tyclosin-500-30g/

Yes, she has chickens also.
I am unsure if they had a respiratory or environmental issue this past winter. Maybe it was respiratory and the stress of me being gone triggered a flare up?

I can bring samples in tomorrow for a fecal test. And I have tylosin powder. Should I start a treatment in the water for all the chickens to be safe?

If yes, I noticed the chickens hated the treated water. Is there something I can add to mask some of the flavor?

I really need to do more research on IB. If that was what they had and it popped back up from stress then I clearly need to be better educated on it.

 

[azygous]

You're fortunate to have the Tylosin on hand. Yes, mix it up for all the chickens. Sugar added to the water may help. Some apple juice might add flavor to the water and make it even more palatable.

 

[bhawk-23]

You're fortunate to have the Tylosin on hand. Yes, mix it up for all the chickens. Sugar added to the water may help. Some apple juice might add flavor to the water and make it even more palatable.

Thank you! I'll mix some up with apple juice. I'm assuming I should not dilute the mix with adding or after. Should I maybe do 3/4 water and 1/4 apple juice to make up the mixing liquid? I hope I'm saying it clear.

 

[azygous]

You could actually taste it before adding the meds. Your proportions sound about right. I doubt it will take much apple juice to flavor it. Remember, chickens have good taste buds, and they haven't been corrupted by a lot of salt and sugar as ours have.

 

[bhawk-23]

You could actually taste it before adding the meds. Your proportions sound about right. I doubt it will take much apple juice to flavor it. Remember, chickens have good taste buds, and they haven't been corrupted by a lot of salt and sugar as ours have.

I try to avoid too many sweet treats but the last time I gave the tylosin I realized they were not drinking as much as normal. I did add a bit of sugar, which slightly helped, and extended the treatment by 48 hrs since I did npt think they received the proper amount the first 2 days. I would catch them finding small rain puddles to drink from and had to be super vigilant they were all dumped asap after a rain.
I still question how much they actually drank, who drank the most and who possibly did not get a full dose. And when Esther presented with an impacted crop which ultimately needed surgery I always wondered if it stemmed back to the antibiotics in the water and her possibly not drinking enough.
Just a theory, obviously I do not know. But I want to avoid anything like that happening again. Making it taste ok would be a good start, I hope

How about adding in some mashed fresh strawberries to give some flavor but not a lot of processed sugar?

I am heading out to grab my fecal samples. Do they need to be really fresh like dog/cat decals do? Or can I grab from the coop, run and fenced area just avoiding the obviously dried and older ones?

Thanks again!

 

[azygous]

I would add any solids to the water. Just clear juice. If the apple juice is sweetened, most are not, no need to ass sugar to the water.

Try to collect as fresh as possible samples of poop. Place each in a separate baggie.

 

[bhawk-23]

I would add any solids to the water. Just clear juice. If the apple juice is sweetened, most are not, no need to ass sugar to the water.

Try to collect as fresh as possible samples of poop. Place each in a separate baggie.

Roundworm eggs. So........yikes! Is it a good or bad sign that only eggs are seen? I have not seen any worms yet. What is the best treatment? And can I do the tylosin and deworm at the same time? I've already started the tylosin so can't stop it now.

Edit: we are getting on average 10+ eggs daily still out of 16 laying hens. All are eating well and laying consistently. I've not seen any worms in or around the coop thus far. I'll keep looking though! They have always free ranged until the last couple months where they are being kept in the fenced area which, without exact measuring, is 600-700 SQ FT and we have 11 full sized hens, 2 silkies, 2 Seramas and 2 dutch bantams. I think this is enough room for that amount.

 

[azygous]

Eggs are mostly what a fecal test will show, the adult worms usually remain in the intestines until there is an overload. Round worms are the most common. You may worm right along with the Tylan no problem.