Puffy eye, wet breathing, eventual death. What is it?

[judym]

I'm new here and have tried to find what is going on with my chickens from other posts, but can't find anything quite like it. Everyone was healthy until I bought some pullets from a "chicken swap". After a few days of getting them home, the pullets started having a slightly swollen eye, then would die. I first thought the other chickens were picking at them, so I isolated them. Eventually they all had the same problem and almost all died. Now some chickens (barnyard mix) that I hatched are doing the same. They are 5 weeks old. They have been in a cage next to the other pullets that I bought, but never with them. When I first noticed it, I pulled out the two that had swollen eyes and put triple antibiotic ointment in their eyes, then bought some Vetericyn. One of them is doing a little better, but the other is not eating and losing weight. Now the others in the general cage all have wet sounding breathing. I don't see any dripping, but they do cough now and then. This morning, another of the pullets that I bought was dead. Her breathing had been sounding real wet. I have two left that I bought from the chicken swap and then the ones that I hatched. The ones that I bought are about 10 weeks old. BTW my hatchlings were all fine until I moved them next to the other pullets. I would really appreciate any help or ideas. The eye is not crusty and really not very swollen, more they keep it closed and don't want to open it. Also usually just one eye.

 

[FlyHigher]

Based on this article, http://www.poultry.msstate.edu/extension/pdf/diseases_poultry_diagnosis_symptoms.pdf, it seems like Mycoplasma infection.
Some of the symptoms of Mycoplasma:
Behavior - Coughing
Behavior - Sneezing
Eyes - Large, swollen

Hope this can help. Or maybe you can do some search on this. Good luck!

 

[TeamChaos]

MG, like FlyHigher linked to, or possibly infectious coryzahttp://www.helium.com/items/1388712-poultry-infectious-coryza-symptoms-and-treatments - best of luck!

 

[leadwolf1]

If there is a terrible odor to the discharge then, coryza.

One of the first things about chickens is the need to quarantine any new chickens that you bring in. The rule of thumb is a month of quarantine before you introduce them to your other birds. This prevents respiratory diseases from spreading through your whole flock. I would read the thread that HighFlyer posted.

Here is another site it's a little easier to follow:

http://www.ehow.com/how_5682676_treat-mycoplasma-galliseptum-chickens.html

 

[leadwolf1]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/694177/flock-with-probable-mg-infection-how-to-proceed

Here is another good post to read. It has alot of important information about this type of infection.

 

[judym]

Thank you everyone for all the info. Will get antibiotics and get them treated. Since they are already isolated from the rest of the flock I am hopeful that it will stay contained.