Hen with swollen wattles and neck!

[mirandaleecon]

My 6 month old Gold Lace hen's face just started to swell today and I have no idea why. I did notice a day or two ago a weird grey growth under her beak. Thought it was an engorged tick at first, if that gives you an idea of what it looked like. That's gone now and her neck is all swollen. Any idea what it could be?

 

[Eggcessive]

How cold is it where you live? Several diseases can cause swelling of the wattles and face including coryza, fowl cholera (pasteurella,) Mareks disease in case of a tumor, and frostbite. The following link has info about coryza and fowl cholera for your reading: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

 

[mirandaleecon]

I live in florida so frostbite isn't an issue. Thank you for the info! She doesn't seem to have any other symptoms so I'm hoping it's not anything like cholera...

 

[Eggcessive]

I would keep a close eye on her for any other symptoms. I would also look around for more signs of poultry ticks. They can hide in crevices of the coop, and may come out more at night. They can cause anemia, and can transmit fowl cholera. Treatment for ticks is permethrin or sevin dust, and cleaning out the coop and spraying of roosts, walls, and floor with Permectrin II (permethrin.) http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/152/ticks

 

[mirandaleecon]

Yea, I've been checking on her every hour or so. The swelling is getting worse but other than that she seems fine. I'm starting to think it was a tick on her because there is no sign of whatever it was now.

 

[Eggcessive]

If I were you I would probably start her on some sulfa antibiotic, such as Sulfadimethoxine or Sulmet. Those will treat fowl cholera as well as infectious coryza, and other infections. Follow the directions on the label or post for instructions. They are sold at farm stores for cattle. http://www.drugs.com/vet/sulmet-drinking-water-solution-12-5.html

 

[mirandaleecon]

Ok,I'll see if i can get it in the morning. What would be the best way to administer it? She free ranges with 4 other chickens and 3 ducks so there are water bowls all around the yard and no way to keep everyone from drinking out of them. Is there an injectable version, or way to give it orally?

 

[Michael Apple]

I live in florida so frostbite isn't an issue. Thank you for the info! She doesn't seem to have any other symptoms so I'm hoping it's not anything like cholera...

You have some nasty insects in Florida don't you? I know how bad a yellow jacket sting can be. We have scorpions around here too. I used .5 ml of childrens Benadryl liquid on a six lb hen, who was gasping for breath with a swelling face after being attacked by yellow jackets. It worked and she recovered, which may not have happened if I didn't use Benadryl.

 

[mirandaleecon]

Yes we do! We have yellow jackets, scorpions, noseeums, monster mosquitos, any biting fly you can think of...its ridiculous! And I do have children's benedryl too so I will try that! Thank you!

 

[Eggcessive]

Ok,I'll see if i can get it in the morning. What would be the best way to administer it? She free ranges with 4 other chickens and 3 ducks so there are water bowls all around the yard and no way to keep everyone from drinking out of them. Is there an injectable version, or way to give it orally?

To medicate her with Sulfadimethoxine or Sulmet, you would probably need to confine her to a crate during the day with her medicated water and feed. You can try the Benadryl that Michael suggested--1/2 of a 25mg tablet would work as well. Ticks apparently can spread fowl cholera. A vet could also give you advice if you have one that you can use.
Dosage for the Sulfadimethoxine is 3/4 teaspoonful of the powder(or 1/2 ounce of the 12% liquid) per gallon of water for 6 days. Sulmet dosage is 2 tablespoonsful (1 ounce) per gallon of water for 6 days.