Occasional Foamy Eyes

[tmarie623]

This is my first go round with Chickens. When I received the Chicks, they were all alive and healthy but one (Chantecler) did have what looked like an injured beak (hole on top) and had pasty butt. It took a bit longer to start eating (had to do mash on the first day). It also ended up have a slight vent protrusion. Fast forward to 4 weeks old and the hole is gone. The chick is growing along with the rest and protrusion has fixed itself after alot of babying. I now have a new issue. I noticed when I picked the chick up a few days ago its eyes were actively foaming. That wasn't happening until I picked it up. It sneezed a few times and would shake its head to clear the foam. It was almost like the foam was coinciding with the chicken breathing. I was leaving town for the weekend and had no time to create a separate "quarantine" area (plus I was too freaked out to think that far ahead) so I put it back with the rest. I know--that was not the greatest idea. I checked on it many times before I left----no more foam. I came home last night and no foam or sneezes. The person checking in on chicks didn't see foam either. I didn't handle the chick until this morning---soon as I handle the chick the foam starts with little sneezes! I'm not sure if it's actually got a respiratory infection or if it's something developmental and occurs when chick gets stressed. Thoughts on treatment or what could be going on?

 

[dawg53]

Where did you get the chicks from and how often do you clean out the brooder?

 

[tmarie623]

Where did you get the chicks from and how often do you clean out the brooder?

Cackle Hatchery--I didn't see a reason to call about the injured beak because it looked like it had got pecked and all including my extras had survived. Luckily the others are all exceptionally healthy. The brooder is in my bathroom at the moment so it stays very clean with fresh shavings. I pretty much change out the water every day b/c of the amount of shavings they throw around. I'm within a week of being able to move them to coop area being the temperature is finally warming up. This will give me a chance to treat separately if I need to, although I'm a little nervous about not introducing it to the new coop at the same time as the rest. Oh, and I put a little Apple Cider Vinegar in the water before I left b/c I've been reading that's a health booster.

 

[dawg53]

Bubbles/foam in eyes can be caused by respiratory diseases, mainly MG. However it is very contagious and your other chicks would be showing the same symptom(s.)
So, it's not MG unless you see symptoms in the other chicks later on.
Ammonia fumes in soiled bedding can cause foamy eyes as well. Again, other chicks would be showing foamy eyes as well. It sounds like you're meticulous at keeping the brooder clean which is a good thing.
You can elevate the waterer by putting a brick under it to help keep it free from shavings.
The hole in the beak may have interfered with the choanal slit opening and closing inside her mouth/upper beak, causing sneezing and head shaking due to drainage into the trachea.
It should heal in time. As long as she's eating and drinking normally, she should be fine.

 

[tmarie623]

Bubbles/foam in eyes can be caused by respiratory diseases, mainly MG. However it is very contagious and your other chicks would be showing the same symptom(s.)
So, it's not MG unless you see symptoms in the other chicks later on.
Ammonia fumes in soiled bedding can cause foamy eyes as well. Again, other chicks would be showing foamy eyes as well. It sounds like you're meticulous at keeping the brooder clean which is a good thing.
You can elevate the waterer by putting a brick under it to help keep it free from shavings.
The hole in the beak may have interfered with the choanal slit opening and closing inside her mouth/upper beak, causing sneezing and head shaking due to drainage into the trachea.
It should heal in time. As long as she's eating and drinking normally, she should be fine.

I actually just did the brick thing last week and need it a tad higher but it's helping! Yes, I've been good about avoiding anything that would create moisture and fumes. MG was the only thing that popped up when I looked into symptoms. If for any reason the others do start showing symptoms, what steps should I take aside from removing sick ones?

I've attached a picture of the hole from the very first day the chick arrived. You can see it closed up well but it crossed my mind something else inside may have not formed correctly. Thanks for boost of confidence about it possibly healing up!

 

[dawg53]

Since they've all been together, they would already be exposed. I dont believe it's MG nor any other respiratory disease. Let's just wait and see for right now.