Sick chicken with swollen eye

[HollywoodMoore]

This chicken has a swollen eye and if you mash it puss comes out.
Also there is some kind of growth on the beak.


What could be wrong ?

 

[Corrie W]

I am no doctor by any means but have had a similar experience with one of my ducks. Try a warm compress to help get crustiness off and Vetericyn gel. You can usually get that at Tractor Supply Co. or anything feed/supply store. If its a respiratory issue, Vetericyn may not help. I'd also look into getting Tylan, its an antibiotic. There is an injectable and a soluble solution. I prefer the soluble, especially if you are treating by yourself and don't have a set of extra hands, give a 5 day course for that and it'll usually take care of things, at least in my experience.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi @HollywoodMoore Welcome To BYC

Pus in the eye can be infectionfrom respiratory disease, dirt/debris in the eye, a wound or other illness.

Flush the eye with saline and remove as much pus as you can. Apply Terramycin eye ointment to the eye 2x a day.

The bump on the comb could be Fowl Pox. Check inside her beak for any lesions or plaques as well. You can put a small amount of Iodine on the bump to see if that will help heal it.

She looks unwell, so if you can seek vet care that would be best. Keep her hydrated, add poultry vitamins to her water and see that she is eating well.

 

[HollywoodMoore]

I took the chicken to the vet. He gave her a two shots, one in each wing. A few hours later she died.

We had another one die earlier this week for no apparent reason.

Makes me think I'm not doing something right.

These chickens are my daughters. She just loves them and I hate seeing her upset when this happens.

Vet said there was nothing I could do.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry for your loss. How old are the chickens? In most states you can send a refrigerated body into your state vet or poultry lab for a necropsy to look for a cause of death, in case of an infectious disease (respiratory diseases, Mareks, etc.) Respiratory diseases will sometimes cause a swollen pus-filled eye from a sinus infection. Symptoms may include a sneeze or cough, nasal mucus, gasping or wheeze, and eye drainage/foam. Those are usually contagious to other chickens in the flock and may cause them to be carriers, so it is good to know if someting like MG or coryza might be going around. Here is a link to read about getting a necropsy with contact info, and another one on common diseases:
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044
http://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm
https://www.heritageacresmarket.com/blogs/misc/necropsy-list

 

[HollywoodMoore]

The vet said he thought it was a sinus issue.

The hen today was about 2 months old.

 

[HollywoodMoore]

What does a necropsy cost ?