Preen gland infection?

[MarlaMac]

Hello,

One of my 15 week Black Australorp cockerels is having an issue. He will do something akin to a dog chasing their tail. I though maybe he had some bugs, but we looked and don't see any type of bug or any trace of eggs, etc. He does have extremely flaking skin.

I thought perhaps the movements we neurological, so I have given him 1/4 vit B and 400 mg of vit E with egg for the past two day, but still I see him doing his "tail chasing" as if he is trying to no avail to get to the middle of his back.

We brought him in and looked him over again tonight. When I got to his preen gland he squawked as if it hurt to touch it. I didn't get picture b/c he was being really uncooperative. I did put plain triple antibiotic ointment on the gland and surrounding tissue. He has lots of feather growth in the area and even feathers growing out the top of the glad. I don't know if that is normal.

Is it possible that the gland is infected? I looked irritated, but not harshly red/swollen. I can get pictures tomorrow. Should I try a epsom salt bath? I can tell it is really bothering him.

Thanks for any advise.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

A few tiny feathers coming out of the gland can be normal.

Yes, the preening gland can become infected or impacted. If you press on it, does any oil come out (it will be a very thin oil) or is it thick oil or pus?

Apply a warm compress to see if that gives some relief.


Read @coach723 post and look at the links she provided as well.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ollen-clogged-oil-gland.1207821/post-19182964

 

[coach723]

I know it might be hard, but a video of his actions might help in seeing if it's neurological. I would check his ears also, an ear infection might cause odd movements, and make sure he can see out of both eyes, just to rule things out.

 

[MarlaMac]

A few tiny feathers coming out of the gland can be normal.

Yes, the preening gland can become infected or impacted. If you press on it, does any oil come out (it will be a very thin oil) or is it thick oil or pus?

Apply a warm compress to see if that gives some relief.


Read @coach723 post and look at the links she provided as well.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ollen-clogged-oil-gland.1207821/post-19182964

Thank you for your reply and the link. He is on mostly chick starter feed. They do get some treats,but that is mostly eggs on occasion, when it is particularly cold, I give them some warm, old fashion oatmeal with egg. Rarely, perhaps once every other week they get a couple handfuls of whole grain scratch that contains black oil sunflower seeds and when it is warm they get a little watermelon or cantaloupe in the afternoon.

I will try the warm compress and press on it to see what comes out. Should I press or squeeze? The area is definitely dirty, so maybe that is causing some irritation.

It is just some small feathers coming out the end.

Also, can I give vit A just in case?

Thanks.

 

[MarlaMac]

I know it might be hard, but a video of his actions might help in seeing if it's neurological. I would check his ears also, an ear infection might cause odd movements, and make sure he can see out of both eyes, just to rule things out.

Thank you. We have checked him over a few times , but I did not specifically look at his ears. We will do that tonight. I will try to capture a video tonight, he always does it when I forget my phone. Looking at him last night it seems less neurological bc the movement is always the same. His eyes are clear and he doesn't seem to be suffering in that way. Yesterday I called him over to get his vitamins in eggs and he ran over and didn't miss a peck. Thanks.

 

[MarlaMac]

His feed is Texas Natural Feeds, non-medicated, chick started.non-GMO, soy and corn free. This is the bulk of his nutrition. He also free ranges and since the weeds are now sprouting up, I can't imagine he is vit A deficient, although, this group of chicks are second on the totem pole, so the do eat after the others, but they do eat. I have multiple fees stations so they get plenty when they want it. They have free access to feed throughout the day.

Here is the label from his feed.

 

[MarlaMac]

Here is his preen gland pictures. I only saw him twirling once today. Didn't get a video. It looks a little inflamed. Now I know first hand that ointment and dirt does not mix. I had to clean him before we could use a warm compress. So we rinsed the area with chlorhexidine solultion, applied the compress for about 10 minutes, blew him dry and set him in the run.

I did try to squeeze and push around the area and I couldn't tell if anything came out of the gland. It looks almost like there might be a pus head at the top of it, but I am not sure. I was afraid to push squeeze any harder. He did not like me messing with it, but seemed to enjoy the warm compress. Any advise as to how hard I should be applying pressure and the method in which to do that. I will search around this site and the internet for advise on that too.

I will continue with the compresses for a couple of days and see what comes from that.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

The gland can be a sensitive area. Try the compresses and see if that helps.
It does look like oil is coming out freely.

Does he have any lice or mites?

 

[MarlaMac]

The gland can be a sensitive area. Try the compresses and see if that helps.
It does look like oil is coming out freely.

Does he have any lice or mites?

No creepy crawlers. We checked him all over - three times - I don't see eggs or live critters. I cleaned the coop top to bottom and saw nothing, paying special attentions to where these four youngsters sleep (can't wait for coop extension to be ready) - nothing there. I wipe my coop down weekly so I think I would catch something if anything was lurking in the cracks and crevices.

I think what you are seeing in the pictures is the antibiotic ointment I put on yesterday, not oil. It was a mess tonight after a day in the dirt. It will be interesting to check him tomorrow after we cleaned him tonight and see what the area looks like.

He hates to be caught (our chickens are people friendly, but not pets), but he does enjoy the little bit of egg we give him after treatment. Figured if it is a vit A deficiency, egg will help. We did tell him tonight, though, that we don't want him walking into our house at bedtime like LC does now. Another reason I am eager for the coop extension to be completed.

I have noticed that his skin seems to be extraordinarily flaky. Another reason I lean toward preen gland issues.

Wondering if I should supplement some extra vit A. I looked for it at the grocery store, but they were out. I read on Poultry Vet that a chicken deficient in vit A should be give 4x the daily requirement for 5-7 days. Any thoughts?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Do you have Poultry Cell or another poultry vitamin that you gave LC?
If so, likely it has Vitamin A plus E, B's etc. I'd try those instead.

What specifically is the A supposed to be for? Immune support?