PLS HELP, PEACHICKS WITH PUFFY ITCHY EYES

[bemba]

This is my first year with peafowl and I have a few chicks from my birds, anyway I noticed about 4 days ago one chick had one eye that was puffy, swollen looking with a little runny discharge from the nostril on that side, also ichy as he kept rubbing his eye on his back. I seperated the chick thinking maybe a peck to the eye had caused the trouble. Anyway since then four chicks have it, and the white one has it on both eyes. I have started them on Baytril antibiotics, given orally twice daily.

The chicks still have a good apetite, and are not looking all that sick (the white looks the worst ATM, I guess because it has both eyes affected) They have been on Baytril for about 2 days, but it doesn't seem to be doing much, the first chick with it looks better in the eye, but was doing so before antibiotics were administered. Does anyone know what this could be? a common peafowl illness? Should I be putting some sort of ointment/cream around the eye? Should I be cleaning the backs to remove bacteria from the feathers?

I am absolutely devistated about the situation, and any hepl at all would be greatly appreciated, thanks in advance.

 

[PeepsCA]

What do you have them on for bedding? Anything dusty? Anything they may have an allergy to? Are they sneezing a lot or showing other symptoms?

If it's just eye irritation using a sterile saline solution first to rinse the eye might help. And then... over here we have a triple antibiotic ointment, petroleum based (for humans) called Neosporin (plain, not with any type of pain relief med in it)... it has helped with several eye issues I've had with young keets (usually just minor eye injuries, irritations or minor eye infections). Maybe you have it there, or something similar? Or any ophthalmic ointment? I usually just put a small dab on my finger and then touch the dab of the meds to their open eye for a second or 2 and let them blink once or twice while I hold my finger there, (it melts a little), just long enough to give the eye a coating of it, 2-3 times a day for a few days until I see they've improved. Maybe it will help your Peachicks too... or at least give them a little relief? The baytril should be dealing with any type of infection....hopefully, but maybe they need something else or a different dosage. I haven't had many eye issues (with keets) that weren't fixed with the Neosporin, but I never had any eye issues with the only 2 Peachicks I've raised so far. What a hassle for you And the poor babies!!!

 

[bemba]

We have had rediculous amounts of rain here for about 2 weeks, so everything is muddy ....... I moved them into the 5 bay shed (dry) and have straw on the bottom of thier pen.

They open their beaks and swallow now and then, like trying to clear something from thier mouth/throat? Then alot of eye rubbing on the back feathers. They all have good appetites so am hoping the antibiotics will knock this on the head, the sun will come out to dry this muddy mess out, and the peachicks will be back to normal. I spoke to an avian vet just now, he says possibly coryza (not sure on spelling) as it is common in this weather, anyway all my other fowl look fine (for now, and hope it stays that way) I have newly hatched peachicks and guineas in the house, because I don't want it to spread any further. Hopefully I'll be able to post in a few days about how great they are doing.

 

[PeepsCA]

Best of luck bemba, and you know I truly mean that. I hope it does not get any worse for you or your babies

And yah... hard core/strict bio-security is your best bet that this point! I don't know enough about coryza to know if other poultry can be carriers or not (never had infected birds or an outbreak before), but just reading that 6 letter word makes me cringe, ugh!!! I've read that a lot of people have culled their entire poultry flocks because of it

Hope all turns out ok with your babies, I know if you lose any you will be devastated

Keep us posted, I'd love to learn from your experience with this, if possible! (Good or bad, hopefully good tho!)

 

[bemba]

After doing some reserch, I don't think it is what I first assumed.... They don't have the smelly pus like discharge, and are actually almost fully alert, so we shall see how they do. Thanks peeps

 

[Frosty]

They probably have a respiratory infection going on. Tylan works really good for that, but it's likely a virus so the Tylan would just basically treat the symptoms (a bacterial infection that invaded while the immune system is fighting the virus). Without testing, there is no way to know exactly what it is. It could be Mycoplasmosis which is contagious. If they have that, they will always be carriers and can transmit it vertically through the egg so future offspring could have it. One thing I should mention, if the swelling stays there too long, it can solidify and then would need to be cut out. Yoda had a really good post with pictures from one that he had to remove. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/504944/swollen-side-of-face-cyst-surgery With my birds, I use a clean syringe with a 16 or 18 g needle and insert the needle into the sinus (where it's swollen) and slowly put the plunger back to suck out what I can. Then I use a new syringe with a smaller gauge needle and inject the Tylan right into the sinus. This is just my method and others have other solutions. If you do choose to inject Tylan, please don't inject into the muscle itself (like the breast or the thigh) unless it's an emergency. Tylan can cause permanent muscle damage.

 

[bemba]

Thanks for your reply..... wow that thread is very informative!!....... My chicks eyes are nothing like that though (yet?) No lumps, just puffy around the eyes...... They are eating really well and seem fine otherwise, wait and see I suppose.

 

[PeepsCA]

Thanks for your reply..... wow that thread is very informative!!....... My chicks eyes are nothing like that though (yet?) No lumps, just puffy around the eyes...... They are eating really well and seem fine otherwise, wait and see I suppose.

Glad they are still doing ok other than the puffies, and not getting any worse. Coryza or any other disease that is contagious and would cause them to be carriers for life and possibly spread thru your entire flock would be devastating to say the very least.

Hoping for the best

 

[Yoda]

I would not put any neosporin in my birds eyes, it states right on the package do not put in eyes. I do not know how quickly baytril will work when given orally. I usually inject it just under the skin on the base of the neck/back at 3cc

 

[PeepsCA]

I would not put any neosporin in my birds eyes, it states right on the package do not put in eyes. I do not know how quickly baytril will work when given orally. I usually inject it just under the skin on the base of the neck/back at 3cc

Keep in mind a lot of meds used for poultry (and other animals) are used off label, like Safeguard as a wormer for example.
Bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin B are antibiotics that kill bacteria. Triple Antibiotic Opthalmic ointments cost around $30-$49 http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=9652 ... Neosporin, $4.99 or so

I would not have recommended it to bemba if any of my animals I have used it on had suffered any ill effects from it... but, to each their own

3 ccs of Baytril SQ for Peachicks? Isn't that the dosage for full grown Peas?