Something is wrong with my male guinea's eyes

[Kmajta88]

Okay so I'm very concerned about one of my young male guinea's eyes. I noticed yesterday that his left eye was swollen and half way shut. I figured one of the others pecked him, or he just got something in it. Today I noticed that both eyes are swollen shut and the poor thing can't see and keeps running into the wall. He is eating and drinking normally. He's 11 weeks old, and I have him and 9 others of the same age in a coop. I have 3 adult males that are constantly outside of their coop pecking at them through the wire. I tried to let these babies out before about a month or so ago, and my adult males pecked the heck out of them so I haven't let them out since. My guineas aren't tame, so picking him up won't happen easily. I thought about catching him, putting him in a large pillow case with just his head out and hold on to him tight so I can check his eyes out closer. I tried to get a picture of his eyes but he won't hold still. Please someone help! My birds mean the world to me. I'd take him to the vet if I had to. Has anyone else experienced this, or can anyone give me some advice? Thanks!

 

[Farmgirl47]

Do you have colloidal silver? You need to apply some (using a Q tip or cotton) to the swollen area (and all around it), multiple times per day.

I have had this happen to probably 3 of my chickens, but with 2 of them I didn't act fast enough and they ended up being permanently blind. One of them we had to put down because she was so miserable. It was very sad.
But, 1 of them, an Americana, I quarantined right away (so she wouldn't be bullied) and I made sure she had, and was eating and drinking, plenty of food and water (electrolytes would probably help too). I put Colloidal Silver on her many times the first day, and by the next day she was a whole lot better. In about a week you couldn't tell anything had happened.
Please note that my Americana was very wild as well, but she knew she was sick so after I caught her and put her in a cage, she was very compliant with all that I did.


I still don't know exactly what it was, or how it happened to those three (at separate times during a few years too, not altogether) but I hope someone more knowledgeable can be of greater help!

 

[Kmajta88]

I don't have any but I can buy some. I finally was able to get some pictures of him. He just ran into my son's leg and the wall cause he can't see. I'm definitely going to catch him but I just want to put whatever is best in his eye. I've seen many different things online about what I can put in a swollen eye. Like I said he is acting normal (besides running into walls cause he can't see), is eating/drinking like normal and i don't see any signs of respiratory distress. But I can't figure out what happened. All of my other ones are okay. I just don't want him to go blind or die from this.

 

[Farmgirl47]

Yes, he does look very similar to my Americana when her eye was swollen. I am so glad he is eating and drinking.

Do you think that this just occurred yesterday? And as I said I think you will need to get right on top of it to save his eyes. Researching about it would definitely help a lot!

Good luck!

 

[Kmajta88]

Yes I think it just happened yesterday. So bad news, no where around my area has collodial silver. Walmart has it online but i can't wait 2 days. I'm so upset and worried about him. I'm quarantining him now. Should I call tractor supply and ask if they have anything for this? I think it may just be Avian Conjuctivitus since he's acting normal.

 

[Kmajta88]

I found collodial silver at a health food store an hour away from me. So I'm going to wipe his eyes out then put it in his eyes tonight. I just hope I can help him. And I hope my others don't get it. I decided that I have no choice but to pen up my adult males and let the babies out during the day. I think they're too cooped up. Thank you for your help @Farmgirl47 !!!

 

[Kmajta88]

I just caught the guinea and treated him. I couldn't tell this just by looking at him earlier, but his head is hot, his face and waddles are swollen and he has dried yellow snot in his nostrils. But he's still acting normal. So now I'm deeply concerned this is worse than I thought. This may sound silly, but can I give a guinea a benedryl?? I was thinking it may help with the swelling. And I'm worried my other guineas and chickens will get it. I treated everyone's water with medication, so I hope this helps. I've noticed that my birds and even my cats have been sneezing a lot lately.

 

[Farmgirl47]

I found collodial silver at a health food store an hour away from me. So I'm going to wipe his eyes out then put it in his eyes tonight. I just hope I can help him. And I hope my others don't get it. I decided that I have no choice but to pen up my adult males and let the babies out during the day. I think they're too cooped up. Thank you for your help @Farmgirl47 !!!

So glad you found some! Put it on his face frequently if you can, I think that is the only way it will help.
I wish I had taken pictures of my chickens when they had it to compare with your little guy.

I have no idea about the benedryl question.
But I do know that when my 3 chickens had swollen eyes, they were at completely different times, like even maybe as much as a year apart, not less than 6 months I think. And none of our other chickens (who were around them constantly until I quarantined) got it. So I am not totally sure if it's contagious or not but I'm inclined to think it isn't.

 

[Wickedchicken6]

Hi! I'm sorry to hear about your guinea. I'm not surprised his face is hot...from your pics it's quite swollen.

By saying face...are you meaning that both sides are swollen. (I can't see the other side from the pics) I don't think he was pecked...I think he has something, especially if there's nasal discharge.

I have guineas but I've never had to treat them. Perhaps I can call a few people and they may have a better idea with guineas. @Wyorp Rock @casportpony @Eggcessive I'm not sure who might have guineas or knowledge. Hopefully someone can chime in.

 

[Wickedchicken6]

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

I see there are some shared illnesses with other poultry. I attached the above that lists a number of illnesses and the birds they affect. I'll be back soon to have a better look at it myself.