Hen suddenly acts blind with puss and significant swelling in one eye.

[Eggcessive]

So are you suggesting that I cull the sick chicken to save the remainder of the flock from infection? I try my best to run an organic/antibiotic free backyard free range chicken community but I am willing to medicate if necessary to save a birds' life. However if as you say they will not be truly healed and I am risking infection to the remainder of my flock then I would likely pursue the greater good.

Also, I am not sure how my chicken could have become infected. I have had the same 6 chickens since birth (they are about 7 months old now) with no introduction of other birds, (aside from the sparrows, robins, etc... that are freely in my back yard), chicken keepers to my backyard, or other chicken operations in my neighborhood. Any ideas as to how they could have become infected? How certain are we that this is a respiratory infection given that i haven't taken any of the risks that commonly result in a respiratory infection. (Bringing in new birds etc...)

Thank you all again for your help on this!

Most respiratory diseases in chickens are chronic and make them carriers for life--but you have 6 chickens, and they have probably all been exposed already. So if it is mycoplasma gallisepticum or CRD, you can treat it with an antibiotic, and it may or may not come back. Yes they will all be carriers, and you can't sell hatching eggs or sell/give away the chickens, but they may be fine and lay you nice eggs and be good pets. Many people have had MG, and they just maintain a closed flock. New birds can be vaccinated, also. Do some reading about MG and take your time making any long term decisions. Here is a good link for info: http://umaine.edu/livestock/poultry/mycoplasma-gallisepticum-faq/
Here is a long thread on people's experience with MG: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/181490/my-experience-dealing-with-mg-mycoplasma-gallispectum

 

[Noobchick]

That's my suggestion: cull the sick one to save the others. Chickens pick up these diseases from the environment and from wild birds. Some chickens are more prone to getting sick than others. (Like this chicken of yours.) Think of it like this: you can catch a cold from a doorknob or keyboard, but are more likely to catch it if someone sneezes on you. Which is what's happening with your chickens. Thesick chicken is sneezing and wheezing on the others, which will make it more likely that the disease will spread to them too. The healthy chickens may be able to fend off a few germs in their environment, but not a full blown germfest in the chicken that's roosting right next to them.

It's your call. I know some people like to save all chickens at all costs. I prefer to sacrifice one to save the others. (And yes, I've had to make that call once already. One of my 60 got a snotty beak for no discernible reason, so I culled her. Have had no issues at all with my other birds. Yes it sucked but I'm glad I did it.)

 

[Kvassay]

I decided to make the difficult decision tonight to cull my sick bird, I took a good long look at my other five hens and they all seemed very healthy with no appearance of infection. It was a very difficult decision to make but I decided preservation of my flock without antibiotics was my preference. I also wiped down the coop and feeders/waterers with Lysol wipes to hopefully kill any additional infection that might be present. I wish I had not had to cull her as she was otherwise a great bird that I have raised since she was two days old. Thank you all for your input!

 

[chicknmania]

Lysol wipes will do basically nothing. If you don't have Oxine, use Bleach. That's dissapointing.

 

[Kvassay]

If Lysol wipes kill 99.9% of viruses and bacteria I have a hard time believing that they "do basically nothing." Do you have any proof to support this statement?

It was very disappointing to cull her but so far the rest of my chickens appear healthy and show no symptoms of any infection.

 

[ten chicks]

Your girl that passed may have only had an eye infection due to being pecked. You mentioned blood coming from ear could indicate pecking,i have seen infections in the eye like what she had without it being a contagious disease.

 

[chicknmania]

You are talking about chickens, not people. We use Oxine. And I agree with Ten Chicks. I'm sure you are feeling bad, and so sorry for your loss, people have different ways of dealing with these things, I suppose. We don't cull, period, unless it's obvious that it's very necessary.

 

[Kvassay]

ten chicks: I initially believed that it was just an eye infection of some sort and really hadn't considered a respiratory infection until Chicknmania mentioned it. After that, I listened to her breathing/clucking and I do believe that it was in fact a respiratory infection. The speed at which she fell ill further leads me to believe this. Also, my chickens are pretty docile and really do not enforce the pecking order because I started with a dozen hens and kept the docile/friendliest six of the group and my dad is raising the other half dozen. For this reason I rarely see them pecking one another.

That being said I kept her body and am looking into how to have her tested to see what in fact ailed her so that I know what to be prepared for with my remaining flock.

Does anyone have any input on how or where I might contact to have this testing done somewhat inexpensively? I am located in Wichita, KS and have reached out to a few local resources so far with no response. Though I was not sure what to expect given the holiday week. Thanks again everyone.

chicknmania: I am aware that I am talking about chickens instead of people but 99.9% of viruses and bacteria is exactly that, correct? It does not read "kills 99.9% of viruses and bacteria that are dangerous to us" Make no mistake that I am attempting to argue as if i know better than you because I am sure I do not, but I am trying to understand with a bit of proof as opposed to blindly taking your word for it. That being said I will do some research on Oxine and appreciate the input!

 

[chicknmania]

I havent' done any research but if nothing else it seems expensive. Bleach or oxine is faster, easier, and cheaper, imo. And possibly more thorough. Contact your vet and see if they will give you a referral to the State ag department for a necropsy, or justcall the State and ask them. Here in Ohio we have to have a referral to get a necropsy done by the STate.

 

[rbaker0345]

It looks like it was actually eye worm, they pick it up from eating roaches. It can cause upper respiratory and general ent misery. Its actually pretty treatable with a flush of ivermectin directly in the eye every three or five days until its cleared up. I just had one go through this and she looked like your girl with the ear infection and upper respiratory symptoms to boot. Three courses of ivermectin later and she is back to normal. Just for future reference, not trying to make you feel bad, its not a common affliciton but it does pop up from time to time and chickens dont generally get it from one another, only from eating an infected cockroach, that's why you may find only one chicken coming down with it.