Hen with Redness/Swelling of Eyes

[TracieH]

3 year old Welsummer hen



About a week and a half ago noticed left eye was red and slightly swollen. See picture 1. The following day she was placed in isolation and treated for one day with Veterycin pink eye spray. There was not much, if any, improvement. Began treating with Terramycin ophthalmic after spray. Left eye began improving quickly, then noticed her right eye beginning the swell and reddening. Began treating it as well. On Day 3, both eyes looked better. See picture 3. She was treated the morning of Day 4, and then allowed to go back with the flock. Treatment was stopped. Now, 4-5 days after treatment stopped, her left eye appears to have swelling in the ring around the eye. See picture 3 & 4 but it does not show up very well.

She doesn’t seem to have any other symptoms. She is eating, drinking, and foraging well. Her energy seems normal. She is at the top in pecking order and might be a bit less feisty when dealing with the other girls, but I am not certain.

Any help is appreciated.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Have you added any new birds recently or dealt with respiratory illness in your flock prior to this?

About all you can do is keep the eye cleaned/flush, apply your ointment. Think whether or not something environmental is causing irritation - lice or mites around the eyes, dusty bedding, mold, etc.
If it's respiratory disease like MG, then an antibiotic like Tylan/Tylosin can be given to treat infection, but it's not a cure.

 

[TracieH]

We haven’t added anyone new or dealt with illness in anyone else. She is the only one having issues so far. Thank you. I will look for mites/lice more closely.

 

[TracieH]

Have you added any new birds recently or dealt with respiratory illness in your flock prior to this?

About all you can do is keep the eye cleaned/flush, apply your ointment. Think whether or not something environmental is causing irritation - lice or mites around the eyes, dusty bedding, mold, etc.
If it's respiratory disease like MG, then an antibiotic like Tylan/Tylosin can be given to treat infection, but it's not a cure.

Do you know how long I should continue using the Terramycin?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Until the eye clears up.

 

[Jenbirdee]

How is her eye doing today? I have a hen with very similar looking eye problems and I was going to start terramycin today but my husband says we should use colloidal silver, apparently some people swear by it.