How likely MG/respiratory disease spread between chicks?

[alpinewelsummer]

Well it's a good thing I joined today--I've got a chicky emergency!

One of the tractor supply chickies we brought home this year developed watery eyes after a few days home--we had to pull a large chunk of wood shavings out of one of her eyes, so we figured they were just irritated from that, plus the dust of laying down new shavings.

However, today (about a week later), we found the eye we pulled the wood chip from completely swollen shut!
She's been breathing a little heavy as well, but otherwise she seems active and peeps a lot, aside from sleeping a little more often than the other chickies.

We separated her, added some electrolytes to her food and water, and put some antibiotic on the swollen eye after gently rinsing with saline. We're still concerned, if it does turn out to be disease and not just a scratched/irritated eye--how likely is it that the whole bunch is infected now?

Everyone else looks fine, not a single watery eye in sight, no heavy breathing, all very active and fluttering around the brooder happily. We also gave them some vitamins/electrolytes in their water, just to be safe.

I guess my question is where to go from here? If no other signs develop and the eye heals, should I go ahead and assume that the wood chip just scratched her little eyeball? It was a little difficult to pull out.

EDIT: On the note of tractor supply, for future reference, are TSC/feed store chicks generally more or less likely to be diseased?

 

[aart]

and put some antibiotic on the swollen eye after gently rinsing with saline.

What kind of antibiotic?
Had you been rinsing and treating since the wood chip event?

We're still concerned, if it does turn out to be disease and not just a scratched/irritated eye--how likely is it that the whole bunch is infected now?

Not sure why you are thinking about MG, unless you have or visit other birds that have it.

 

[alpinewelsummer]

What kind of antibiotic?
Had you been rinsing and treating since the wood chip event?


Not sure why you are thinking about MG, unless you have or visit other birds that have it.

We've been rinsing since then, but only started treating with Terramycin when we noticed the swelling.

I read a few horror stories of TSC stock being MG positive, which is why a potential resp disease was on my mind.

 

[aart]

I read a few horror stories of TSC stock being MG positive, which is why a potential resp disease was on my mind.

I have never read that.

@Wyorp Rock and @Eggcessive know more about resp issues than I.

 

[alpinewelsummer]

I have never read that.

@Wyorp Rock and @Eggcessive know more about resp issues than I.

Relieving to hear, at least! Seeming more like simple eye infection in your opinion then? While I wait for second opinions?

 

[dawg53]

TSC gets their chicks from reputable hatcheries, Ideal and Hoover hatcheries come to mind.
I've bought chicks from TSC and Ideal on separate occasions over the years without any problems and never had any issues with the chicks.

It's possible a small piece of shaving was stuck in your chicks eye or perhaps the chick scratched her eye and it became infected. You did the right thing by flushing the eye with saline solution. You can apply Terramycin eye ointment in her eye 2 or 3 times a day and hopefully it will clear up the infection.
View attachment 2571864

 

[alpinewelsummer]

TSC gets their chicks from reputable hatcheries, Ideal and Hoover hatcheries come to mind.
I've bought chicks from TSC and Ideal on separate occasions over the years without any problems and never had any issues with the chicks.

It's possible a small piece of shaving was stuck in your chicks eye or perhaps the chick scratched her eye and it became infected. You did the right thing by flushing the eye with saline solution. You can apply Terramycin eye ointment in her eye 2 or 3 times a day and hopefully it will clear up the infection.
View attachment 2571864

It's encouraging to hear that illness isn't common with TSC birds, thank you. I'll continue with the Terramycin treatments--her eye already looks less swollen!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Can you post some photos?

Possible more debris/dust got in the eye, she scratched it - or a tiny piece was missed and it's festered in there causing swelling. I would flush and use the Terramycin 2-3 times a day in the eye.

Breathing heavy - is she too hot? Check your brooder temps and make sure there's plenty of ventilation.

Unlikely hatchery chicks from TSC have MG, but if you have respiratory illness in your flock then it's possible it has spread to the chicks from your clothes.

 

[alpinewelsummer]

Can you post some photos?

Possible more debris/dust got in the eye, she scratched it - or a tiny piece was missed and it's festered in there causing swelling. I would flush and use the Terramycin 2-3 times a day in the eye.

Breathing heavy - is she too hot? Check your brooder temps and make sure there's plenty of ventilation.

Unlikely hatchery chicks from TSC have MG, but if you have respiratory illness in your flock then it's possible it has spread to the chicks from your clothes.

I'll take a few in the morning as I don't want to disturb their rest right now, but thank you for your assistance.

I don't think she's too hot, the temp is 85F with little fluctuation, and none of the other chicks are breathing like that, but I moved her little cage away a bit to be safe. I'll see if the air is too stagnant but, it seems to be just her.

Glad to hear again that feed store chicks are usually okay. I'm used to buying barnyard babies so maybe I was being a little too distrustful.

 

[aart]

I don't think she's too hot, the temp is 85F with little fluctuation, and none of the other chicks are breathing like that, but I moved her little cage away a bit to be safe.

They need to be able to get under the heat and away from it.
Pics of this cage and your brooder?
Here's some tips about using lamps for chick heat:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-chick-heat-blurb.75619/