Pullet with extremely swollen eye! Help needed!

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Could be, but could be something really nasty.

Well no more chickens from her for me. (Not that my mom will let me bring any home let alone discuss getting more chickens until January 1st.) I put the 2 bantams on tylan 50 when I brought them home as an added precaution.

 

[emmyn74]

One of mine had something like this....his eye was almost as bad and I thought he was going to lose it...I was going to just have my husband cull him...but I went and got some eyedrops for pink eye that I had in my cabinet and started putting that in his eye three times a day and after about a week the swelling had gone down and the puss was much less...after two weeks it was completely gone....I also gave him a round of oxytetracycline...he is completely fine now....but when first using the drops I had to get a warm rag and let it sit on his eye for a couple minutes and then slowly wipe at the puss until it started to come off from being wet. It kept getting really bad with the puss and swelling and him not being able to open it for the first 5 days or so...after that it got easier to clean with the smaller amounts of puss...

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

One of mine had something like this....his eye was almost as bad and I thought he was going to lose it...I was going to just have my husband cull him...but I went and got some eyedrops for pink eye that I had in my cabinet and started putting that in his eye three times a day and after about a week the swelling had gone down and the puss was much less...after two weeks it was completely gone....I also gave him a round of oxytetracycline...he is completely fine now....but when first using the drops I had to get a warm rag and let it sit on his eye for a couple minutes and then slowly wipe at the puss until it started to come off from being wet. It kept getting really bad with the puss and swelling and him not being able to open it for the first 5 days or so...after that it got easier to clean with the smaller amounts of puss...

Thanks for the awesome info. I’ll pass it on to my boss

 

[Wyorp Rock]

If it isn’t Coryza how can I treat it? Should I bring her home and isolate her and try to remove the pus?

My boss gave her a shot of some yellow fluid but I don’t know what it was. She isn’t coughing or gurgling but the Black Sex Link cockerel in the isolation stall with her is.

It's always up to you, but personally I would not bring her home. Just treat her while you are at work if you need to.
There are several contagious respiratory diseases that can cause pus in the eye, so unless there is testing, you have no way of knowing for sure what she has. You mention the cockerel with her is coughing and gurgling...that is not good, imho.

Dust can aggravate symptoms, making the air quality better is always helpful. Not sure how you would do that in a barn where there is dusty hay/feed, etc.

Please keep in mind that respiratory illnesses can be transmitted in dust/dander, through feathers/bodily fluids, on clothes/shoes, etc. I do recommend that you at least change clothes and shoes and wash hands when you get home before you see and tend to your own chickens. Better yet, shower (and put on clean clothes/shoes).

Keep us posted.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

It's always up to you, but personally I would not bring her home. Just treat her while you are at work if you need to.
There are several contagious respiratory diseases that can cause pus in the eye, so unless there is testing, you have no way of knowing for sure what she has. You mention the cockerel with her is coughing and gurgling...that is not good, imho.

Dust can aggravate symptoms, making the air quality better is always helpful. Not sure how you would do that in a barn where there is dusty hay/feed, etc.

Please keep in mind that respiratory illnesses can be transmitted in dust/dander, through feathers/bodily fluids, on clothes/shoes, etc. I do recommend that you at least change clothes and shoes and wash hands when you get home before you see and tend to your own chickens. Better yet, shower (and put on clean clothes/shoes).

Keep us posted.

I won’t bring her home. I will shower and change my clothes when I get home from work for now on. I will tell my boss to put the pullet on an antibiotic.
Thank you for your help.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

I smelled the pullet today and I can’t tell if her eye smells or if it’s just her.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I smelled the pullet today and I can’t tell if her eye smells or if it’s just her.

If you can get the pus out, that will help her heal. Chicken pus is semi-hard and it won't dry up like with humans or other animals it has to be removed.
Having a helper to hold her would be good, but if you can work on getting a little out at a time, I think you will see some improvement.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

If you can get the pus out, that will help her heal. Chicken pus is semi-hard and it won't dry up like with humans or other animals it has to be removed.
Having a helper to hold her would be good, but if you can work on getting a little out at a time, I think you will see some improvement.

I will try on Tuesday. Will I have to cut the skin to remove the ball of puss?

 

[casportpony]

I will try on Tuesday. Will I have to cut the skin to remove the ball of puss?

Maybe not. Sometimes it can be removed without cutting.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I will try on Tuesday. Will I have to cut the skin to remove the ball of puss?

I would first try warm compresses, try to squeeze or press the pus out, go slowly. If you have help and are very steady, you may be able to use tweezers to at least get it started. From what I understand, you do have to press pretty firmly.