Please help! Possible Vent Gleet?

[dorih]

My hen started limping probably 2 weeks ago. I thought she was egg bound so I separated her and soaked her in epsom salt and gave her extra calcium. (She has not laid an egg in this period either), but she seemed better, still with a limp, after about 5 days so I put her back in the coop. She showed no other symptoms until today. Her right eye is closed and she will not open it, and she is still having trouble getting around. Please help. I have read everything and am overwhelmed with all of the diseases chickens can get.

 

[redsoxs]

I am sorry your hen is sick. I sure don't have any helpful advice for you. The limp and the eye shouldn't be related but it seems unlikely to be just a coincidence. Is there a vet in your area that deals in poultry? Hope you find a solution soon?

 

[dorih]

Thank you. I feel so bad for her. We took one of our other chickens to a vet and it cost us a couple hundred dollars, only to be sent home with pain medication. We had to put him out of his misery after about a week. This was over a year ago though. I hate that it is hard to find good care for chickens. I just don't want her to be in pain or to suffer.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Can you post some photos?

How old is she?
The eye being closed, is there any swelling or discharge?
The limping - any swelling of the hocks, joints, feet (bottom of the feet too)?
Is she eating/drinking?
Any other symptoms - lethargic, nasal discharge, swelling of the face, etc.?
Was the limping the only symptom you saw that made you think she was egg bound, or did she seem to be in distress?

It's possible she could have some debris in the eye, so gently flush/rinse the eye with saline and see if there is anything in there.

You may want to re-separate her and provide her with some poultry vitamins in her water. Extra protein like egg, tuna, mackerel or meat in addition to her normal feed as well.

Feel of her abdomen to see if there is any swelling or if she is bloated.

Keep her warm and make sure she is staying hydrated.

 

[chickens really]

Do your Birds all get along?? It could possibly be from a peck to the eye and the limp from being attacked.....Do you have a Cockerel/Rooster??? Injuries happen....


Cheers!

 

[dorih]

Can you post some photos?

How old is she?
The eye being closed, is there any swelling or discharge?
The limping - any swelling of the hocks, joints, feet (bottom of the feet too)?
Is she eating/drinking?
Any other symptoms - lethargic, nasal discharge, swelling of the face, etc.?
Was the limping the only symptom you saw that made you think she was egg bound, or did she seem to be in distress?

 It's possible she could have some debris in the eye, so gently flush/rinse the eye with saline and see if there is anything in there.

You may want to re-separate her and provide her with some poultry vitamins in her water.  Extra protein like egg, tuna, mackerel or meat in addition to her normal feed as well.

Feel of her abdomen to see if there is any swelling or if she is bloated.

Keep her warm and make sure she is staying hydrated.

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[dorih]

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[Eggcessive]

Swollen and draining eyes can be a sign of pecking injury, infection, or of a respiratory disease--mycoplasma gallisepticum or synoviae, and others. Mycoplasma can also infect the joints causing swelling and pain. There can be many causes of lameness, from vitamin or mineral deficiency, injuries, bumblefoot infection on the foot pad, Mareks disease, and others. Does she have any peck marks around her eyes, eye or nasal drainage, or labored breahing? Was she vaccinated for Mareks? Here is some reading about the 2 types of mycoplasma in chickens:
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publications/6/diseases-of-poultry/183/mycoplasma/
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/disea...tion-mg-chronic-respiratory-disease-chickens/
http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/p...nfection_in_poultry_infectious_synovitis.html
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

 

[dorih]

Swollen and draining eyes can be a sign of pecking injury, infection, or of a respiratory disease--mycoplasma gallisepticum or synoviae, and others. Mycoplasma can also infect the joints causing swelling and pain. There can be many causes of lameness, from vitamin or mineral deficiency, injuries, bumblefoot infection on the foot pad, Mareks disease, and others. Does she have any peck marks around her eyes, eye or nasal drainage, or labored breahing? Was she vaccinated for Mareks? Here is some reading about the 2 types of mycoplasma in chickens:
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publications/6/diseases-of-poultry/183/mycoplasma/
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/disea...tion-mg-chronic-respiratory-disease-chickens/
http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/p...nfection_in_poultry_infectious_synovitis.html
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

She doesn't have nasal drainage or labored breathing. Our chickens were not vaccinated for Marek's. We have a bantam rooster who could have accident damaged her eye when mating. She has always had a bald spot on the top of her head from him. She is eating and trying to get around as best she can.

 

[chickens really]

It is not always DOOM and GLOOM as most replies indicate.....I always reply to the latter....I never have had any of the common illnesses others seam to know so much about.....As long as Chickens are fed and managed properly they remain very healthy....
I believe your dealing with injury and not illness.....

Cheers!