Sick chicken with swollen face

[5arrowsfarm]

Yesterday I noticed one of my hens had a really swollen face. Only one side is affected, the other side looks completely normal. The eye is swollen shut with liquid oozing out of it. Her mouth is so swollen to the point where she can’t swallow or close her beak. She smells pretty bad, which is new. Any ideas on what happened or what medicine I can give to her?

 

[casportpony]

Poor girl. That is one that might need sinus surgery and antibiotics. Can you take her to a vet? If not, you think you could do the surgery?

 

[dawg53]

Has there been any wheezing or sneezing, runny nostrils, head shaking going on with her or any other birds in your flock?

 

[5arrowsfarm]

How long did it take to get this bad?

It was probably around 6 hours. She was fine when they were let out to free range, and then I went to check on everyone around 2 in the afternoon and she was in bad shape.

 

[casportpony]

I’m starting to think it was some sort of insect or snake bite. I don’t think if it was some internal issue that it would only affect one side of her face. I’m in Moravian Falls, NC. I’ll add that to my profile. Thank you!!

Have you taken a look at her eye yet? And is it the just the eye that smells. When I read your first post I assumed you meant it was the eye that smelled, and a swollen, smelly eye almost always means infection, which is why I mentioned sinus infection, antibiotics, and surgery.
FWIW, one-sided sinus infections are more common than two sided ones, so keep that in mind.

 

[dawg53]

My first thought was that it was coryza. Since there are no other symptoms and no other birds are showing coryza symptoms, it's an eye infection. It could be viral or fungal but I suspect it's bacterial due to the foul odor. The infection should be removed from the eye and she should be given an antibiotic such as amoxicillin or doxycycline.
In chickens, benadryl will not reduce swelling, it will however keep the trachea open so she can breathe. I dont think this is an issue in this instance, but if it becomes one, use childrens benadryl. Dosage is 1/2cc orally, once in a 24 hour period.

 

[sylviethecochin]

@casportpony @aart @azygous might be able to help.

 

[azygous]

What would the sinus surgery entail?

This product is one I often use on chicken patients with swollen sinuses. https://www.kvsupply.com/item/prednisolone-acetate-ophthalmic-suspension/497024/ I use an ophthalmic antibiotic with it, along with an ophthalmic anti-inflammatory, but you would need a prescription for this last one.

 

[tripletfeb]

I'm sorry if this is a dumb question but could she have been stung by something? A bee or wasp? She looks miserable, poor thing!

 

[aart]

How long did it take to get this bad?