Silkie chick with swollen yellow eye UPDATE-it's gone :(

[NotTheMomma]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=93669

maybe something in there will help?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=93669

 

[tgrlily]

TSC was closed by the time I got out of work. I'll get the teramycin ointment first thing in the morning. Thank you for your help & the link.

Renee

 

[NotTheMomma]

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/PS/PS03100.pdf

 

[LynneP]

I'm beginning to wonder whether the cornea is infected with something - I have been searching on your behalf trying to get answers and so far have nothing except this article on a chick eye fungus called Aspergillus fumigatus . Will keep trying.


http://www.cababstractsplus.org/abstracts/Abstract.aspx?AcNo=19742223493

"A few chicks aged 22-28 days from each of two poultry farms were found to have unilaterally swollen eyelids. Eye lesions were severe, and a yellow caseous mass adhered to the cornea; otherwise the birds were healthy, with no obvious visceral lesions. A. fumigatus was cultured from eye lesions, in a medium containing blood, maize-meal and Sabouraud's agar. Three plates showing macro- and microscopic findings are presented. Only the anterior part of the eye was affected, with exudation, disintegration of the cornea, hyperaemia and haemorrhage in the iris and ciliary body, proliferation of granulation tissue, and invasion by immune cells. Hyphae, probably harboured in the chip litter, apparently invaded the eye from the corneal surface. A few birds also had infected granulomas in the bronchi, and many showed an immune reaction in some viscera."

In several other articles I see that this fungus is a problem in some hatcheries where feed has become damp and the spores spread in the air.
More common in waterfowl but seen often in Asia in chickens. Does not spread from bird to bird BUT source must be found because other birds can acquire the spores, too.



any change?

More research on the fungal theory, not very encouraging. Can be forerunner to extremely pathogenic respiratory episodes. Turkey producers also see their fair share:

http://www.aspergillus.org.uk/indexhome.htm?secure/veterinary/Poultdis1.html~main

Tetracyline sorbate tried as treatment- this is definitely a situation for vet.

http://www.aspergillus.org.uk/secur...is_page=1&no_of_results=47&family=Phasianidae

 

[ruth]

I haven't seen anything quite like it - it does look to be the eyeball or a covering over it. I would try washing with saline solution.

By the way, when I was at my vet's buying the anitbiotic eye ointment for one of my chickens, she said "You know, you can use Neosporin - it works just as well." I bought the eye ointment but filed away her advice for future use.

 

[tgrlily]

I think that it's more than just an eye infection.

I ran out first thing to get the Terramycin ointment for the eye. It had gone from yellow to brown, more swollen & she was obviously in distress -- peeping loud & constant. When I got home I noticed that 2 of the silkies looked like they were damp under the chin. I put some duramycin 10 in the water & picked up LA 200 at TSC to inject.

My daughter has Juvenile Diabetes, so I have 3/10 cc syringes with 1/2 unit markings & 31g needles.... & I'm not afraid to use them! I just want these poor teeny babies to get better. I just need to know how much Liquamycin to give them.

Anyone know dosage for 5 day old bantams?

Added... I just culled the poor chick with the swollen eye. I couldn't stand to let it be in so much pain & distress. I hope the antibiotics can head off whatever this was so we don't lose them all.

 

[NotTheMomma]

Oh no. Huge HUGGLES!! Please let me know how the others are. I'd love to know what caused that.