Was out handfeeding my chickens earlier and realized one of my Australorps had eyes that looked like my turkeys: deepset with blue grey around them. Thought maybe it was just a "maturing" thing, until I realized she was the only one like that. Then I noticed one of her wattles was shades of white/blue/purple/red instead of just red. Finally figured out that the "deep set" look was swelling around the eye - the wattles don't look swollen, and she ran off before I could find out if her body was swollen or if she was just fluffy in the wind. All our poultry seem lively, and egg production was down the other day, but I think that was more of a collection problem (saw someone in the outside box which hasn't been used or checked since summer - an egg left there is rat bait). One of the hens was rather sneezy this morning, and it didn't sound like the normal "morning dust in my beak" sneeze, but I don't think it was the swollen eye one, and I was feeding them some cracked corn that had a lot of fine bits that could have got up her nose. The birds have a large yard to range in, they get feed, cracked corn, and today's treats were a small pack of berry applesauce and a can of peas. The turkeys seem healthy, and except for the sneezer (who stopped) and Ms. Bluewattle, all the chickens seem healthy.
So...
Any ideas? What should I go look for?
I've just read up on Coryza and Myoplasma, and they don't seem to fit with an active bird with no drainage, sneezing, and a wattle that is just discolored but not swollen. I have Sulmet, but want to avoid treating blindly. I searched on the forums, but got weird results.
Update: Ok, just brought her in for examination: she does seem to be breathing through her mouth, but not noisily. I cleaned the outside of her nares, even though they didn't seem very dirty - just a little mud from scrounging. Her appetite is definitely not down! Felt her body - no obvious swelling elsewhere. Full crop that seemed firm, but loosened immediately when I massaged it. Everyone has a full crop this morning. I forgot to "dig around" on her belly to see about eggs, just felt it, but like I said, no swelling or hardness anywhere it wasn't supposed to be. Her wattles don't have any white now, but both of them are purply towards the ends. I put some vap-o-rub under her wings after I had checked to make sure they were dry (wet= coryza, I think I read) because I didn't know what else to do and it worked on my turkey poults.
So...
Any ideas? What should I go look for?
I've just read up on Coryza and Myoplasma, and they don't seem to fit with an active bird with no drainage, sneezing, and a wattle that is just discolored but not swollen. I have Sulmet, but want to avoid treating blindly. I searched on the forums, but got weird results.
Update: Ok, just brought her in for examination: she does seem to be breathing through her mouth, but not noisily. I cleaned the outside of her nares, even though they didn't seem very dirty - just a little mud from scrounging. Her appetite is definitely not down! Felt her body - no obvious swelling elsewhere. Full crop that seemed firm, but loosened immediately when I massaged it. Everyone has a full crop this morning. I forgot to "dig around" on her belly to see about eggs, just felt it, but like I said, no swelling or hardness anywhere it wasn't supposed to be. Her wattles don't have any white now, but both of them are purply towards the ends. I put some vap-o-rub under her wings after I had checked to make sure they were dry (wet= coryza, I think I read) because I didn't know what else to do and it worked on my turkey poults.
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