Hen with Swollen Eye and Missing Feathers?

[OliviaKenobi]

Hey there!

I would love any guidance and direction on how to help my hens. I found her in the corner of the coop and she usually roost with the rest of the hens. I found her eye completely swollen/shut and feathers missing around her neck. All of the other chickens seem to be fine.

 

[Eggcessive]

Can you try opening the eye to see if there is pus or white material inside? Does she smell bad? Has she any nasal drainage, sneeze, cough, or noisy breathing? She may have a respiratory infection or disease, such as MG or coryza. Has she been picked on a lot in the past by the others? I would apply a warm wet compress to the eye to soften any drainage. Flush the eye with saline twice a day, and apply a small dab of plain Neosporin ointment into the eye twice a day. The pus in the eye may need to be pushed out. Here is a graphic video of that:

 

[OliviaKenobi]

We tried opening it and not any luck. We will try again. I haven't noticed any picking on her directly but I did notice her feathers everywhere all over the run. As far as smell she does smell bad almost a rotten smell.

@Eggcessive Will my other hens get this? I have removed her from flock as soon as this was posted. Thanks!

 

[Eggcessive]

If it is coryza, it is contagious, but the others by now are probably exposed. Have you added any new birds recently? You might try treating her with a sulfa antibiotic. Here is one that you can get:
https://jedds.com/products/medicox-...zHuMAs4RF1AjqsT3mcsKK5kXWNrCOmhbsq0tp6DX994NQ

 

[OliviaKenobi]

If it is coryza, it is contagious, but the others by now are probably exposed. Have you added any new birds recently? You might try treating her with a sulfa antibiotic. Here is one that you can get:
https://jedds.com/products/medicox-...zHuMAs4RF1AjqsT3mcsKK5kXWNrCOmhbsq0tp6DX994NQ

I added 2 new hens a month ago. Is her chance of survival high or low? And anything is it okay to give the antibiotic to the rest of the flock?

 

[Eggcessive]

I would only give the antibiotic to a hen who has symptoms like hers. I would close your flock to new birds, or to any going out of the flock (don’t sell or give away birds.) She can survive, and would have a better chance if you can get the pus out of her eye.

 

[AshVau22]

In the picture the feathers in the back look almost wet. Have you noticed her hiding her head in the area? I found a chicken once and during the quartine period it developed a cold or something watery eyes and congestion swelling face smelled bad. I believe the reason the bird was dumped was because it was sick. It would hide it head in its feathers above the wings and back area and the feathers became covered in whatever was draining from its face causing the feather to look just like the ones on your chicken. I'm sorry your chicken is sick.

 

[OliviaKenobi]

@Egg

I would only give the antibiotic to a hen who has symptoms like hers. I would close your flock to new birds, or to any going out of the flock (don’t sell or give away birds.) She can survive, and would have a better chance if you can get the pus out of her eye.

thank you so much!

 

[OliviaKenobi]

In the picture the feathers in the back look almost wet. Have you noticed her hiding her head in the area? I found a chicken once and during the quartine period it developed a cold or something watery eyes and congestion swelling face smelled bad. I believe the reason the bird was dumped was because it was sick. It would hide it head in its feathers above the wings and back area and the feathers became covered in whatever was draining from its face causing the feather to look just like the ones on your chicken. I'm sorry your chicken is sick.

I haven't noticed as my husband has been on chicken duty lately. Tonight I went out and found her in the corner of the coop. Your theory seems correct though.