Something is wrong but what?!

[Roxannmi]

I have 3 hens all just under a year old. Cochin, RI red and a light brahma that all have a strange eye issue that I can't seem to figure out what it is!

So I will post a picture of all 3 girls in hopes that someone can help me.

Cochin ^
She was the first to have the eye issue. It went from (day 1)what looked like a peck mark on her eyelid, (day 2) to a small bump on the lower lid, to (day 3-5) a swollen eye some watery bubbles but I figure she was so swollen her sinuses were blocked and water would come out her eye. She behavior never changed. She continued to lay and by day 6 was looking great and this picture is day 9. Some discoloration but back to normal.

RI Red ^
Second hen to get the eye thing. Started the same way as the cochin. Her eye started to show the bump on the cochin's day 6. Her eye does have some dirt on it from the dust bath, it's not black or anything. Her eye has never gotten worse. Same behavior, still laying. No watery eye or anything.

Light brahma ^
Third hen to get the eye issue and by far the worse of all three! (She to has some dirt on her eye but has also scratched) She started out with a bump like the others, by day 2 was swollen shut. Some watery bubbles but again as you can see she is very swollen and it is only occasionally (like after drinking water). She's on day 6 now and still swollen shut. No improvement, no worsening. Same behavior, still laying. She did get neosporin put on around her eyelid in hopes that maybe it would help.

All three got a doses of oxyteracycline 2 days in a row, just in case it was bacterial. None of the other chickens in that coop (11 others) have having any issues. For a couple of days I though it might be fowl pox but it doesn't really fit them. Then I thought eye worm, but that doesn't fit either. With no respiratory issues and all in great health other then the eye thing, I'm stumped! Any suggestions or if someone has had this issue please help!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Looks like fowl pox to me.

 

[ChickNanny13]

2x

 

[getaclue]

Antibiotics are ineffective against fowl pox, but they will treat secondary infections. Since your birds appear to have dry pox, the warts or nodules can pop up near or close to the eyes. The warts/nodules cause irritation to the chickens eye and the chicken will scratch her eye causing injury and bacterial infection. You can use saline solution to flush debris out of the eye and apply a small dab of terramycin eye ointment to the eye several times a day until healed. Plain neosporin ointment (WITHOUT pain releif) will work if you cant get the terramycin eye ointment. For serious eye infections I recommend Baytril or Amoxcillin given orally.

 

[Roxannmi]

Would it be pointless/to late to vaccinate the rest of the chickens in that coop and what about my other coop? I have a coop in a different location that I keep my free rangers in. The coop with the pox are my breeders..... Wait is that out the window too now??

 

[Eggcessive]

Have you had mosquitoes out lately? How long have the eyes looked like this? I would question this being pox, just because it is the middle of winter. Have you had other birds recently suffering from pox, that could have just been lingering around the coop? Some of the scabs look like pox, but could be peck wounds. The goopy eye needs warm wet compresses to help get the eye open. Then I would clean the eye, and twice a day put a small dot of Terramycin eye ointment into the eye. Neomycin eye ointment or erythromycin would be alternatives. Goopy eyes can be from pecking, infection, fowl pox, and from respiratory diseases, such as MG.

 

[lazy gardener]

Regardless of the disease, it couldn't hurt to give your girls some multivitamins. Are they eating well? B/C the lesions you see around the eyes could also be in the airways/mouth.

 

[Roxannmi]

Have you had mosquitoes out lately? How long have the eyes looked like this? I would question this being pox, just because it is the middle of winter. Have you had other birds recently suffering from pox, that could have just been lingering around the coop? Some of the scabs look like pox, but could be peck wounds. The goopy eye needs warm wet compresses to help get the eye open. Then I would clean the eye, and twice a day put a small dot of Terramycin eye ointment into the eye. Neomycin eye ointment or erythromycin would be alternatives. Goopy eyes can be from pecking, infection, fowl pox, and from respiratory diseases, such as MG.

No mosquitos around here lately. I'm in Michigan and I haven't seen a bug in about a month. The first hen showed the ”peck mark" looking thing about 10 days ago. This is my first time dealing with anything like this. I have never had eye issues or pox in general. None of the marks on the brahma chicken are raised. Most of the stuff on and around her eye is stuck on dirt and or a scratch mark

 

[Roxannmi]

Regardless of the disease, it couldn't hurt to give your girls some multivitamins. Are they eating well? B/C the lesions you see around the eyes could also be in the airways/mouth.

They are eating great! Not a single chicken in that coop is underweight lol. They eat a higher protein diet and I'm heading out to get rooster booster drench for their water today. No lesions in the mouth that I can see.

 

[getaclue]

Dry fowl pox is nothing to be overly concerned about. It's very rare that chickens die from it. Just keep an eye on them for infection from them scratching the pox, and any secondary infections. Typically in a couple weeks, it will have run it's course, and your chicken(s) will be immune for life. No need to vaccinate.