my chicken has one very swollen eye and cheek

[AlpineButterfly]

My 6 yr old bantam frizzle cochin hen has a very swollen eye and cheek. It doesn't seem to have much discharge, but it is tender and warm. Two days ago I cleaned around it with a wet paper towel and flushed it with saline and tried to put some antibiotic ointment around it. Yesterday morning I gave her a bath with epsom salts and flushed the eye again. Yesterday evening I flushed the eye again and put more ointment around it and moved her to a cage in the house, away from the other five hens. She hasn't been enthusiastic about eating, but she is still eating.

(sorry for the sideways picture; I can't figure out how to rotate it. FYI, she does have a cross beak, but we've managed that fine these last 6 years.)

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I turned you photo for you so others can see it better.
She has an eye infection. As to the cause - could be a lot of things - from respiratory disease to an injury that got infected.

If you have vet care, that is best. The swelling is likely full of pus and that will need to come out. (see video below) Antibiotics may help if it's bacterial infection. Mycoplasma responds well to Tylan50 but your vet may have something better.

 

[AlpineButterfly]

If you have vet care, that is best. The swelling is likely full of pus and that will need to come out. (see video below)

Thanks for the advice. The vet won't see her because of the outbreak of Virulent Newcastle Disease. For removing the pus, is it best to squeeze, or will using a sterile needle to drain it work?

 

[Eggcessive]

It is better to squeeze as they do in the video. Sometimes if the pus has been there awhile, it can become more hard and grainy, and may require picking it out with a tool. Below is another video where the vet has to pick the pus out a little at a time. E.coli bacteria can be common in these eye infections, and MG or coryza can be common. So an antibiotic such as Baytril, which is banned in chickens, could be useful. You can get that here in 100 ml bottles of 10%, and we can give dosage:
https://www.jedds.com/shop/misc/

Here is the video:

 

[AlpineButterfly]

Update: I found a vet who would see her, and diagnosis is a tumor. They aspirated some cells, and got red blood cells and some dividing cells, but not white blood cells nor signs of bacteria nor an abscess.

 

[Cragg Klefor]

Oh I'm sorry about the diagnosis. Sometimes we are left wishing it was just an infection. Did the vet give you any advice on supportive care?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Update: I found a vet who would see her, and diagnosis is a tumor. They aspirated some cells, and got red blood cells and some dividing cells, but not white blood cells nor signs of bacteria nor an abscess.

I'm very sorry to hear that. I'm glad you were able to see a vet, did they offer any care instructions?

 

[AlpineButterfly]

The vet suggested antibiotic drops and keeping it clean, because the tumor can easily block tear ducts, sinuses, ear, and can get infected. She can go back in with her flock, but make sure she isn't getting too picked on, and is getting enough to eat and drink, since her cross beak already hinders her and the tumor can get in the way of her throat. But her other eye is still bright, and if she is getting what she needs, and her quality of life seems good, she may live for a while longer.

 

[Eggcessive]

Oh I am sorry that it is a tumor. That is just usually a common area for pus and a respiratory infection. It was very good that you were able to seek vet care which is always the best thing to do if possible. Let us know what happens to her.

 

[AlpineButterfly]

We have been keeping an eye on Violet, and the swelling seems to have gone down. She still has a lump in her cheek I can feel, but it doesn't seem to be impairing anything so far. She is back with her flock, and seems to be doing alright. I am feeding them slightly fermented feed now, because it is easier for her to eat the mash, so she's been gaining weight back.