Swollen eye and Fowl Pox

[VeganFarmer]

Well, for my first flock I have chosen the sickest birds around. I'm already so attached to them and am worried sick.

The background info:

When I got the birds I noticed bugs on them (lice) and took them to the vet. The vet noticed a small red sore on one of the birds and diagnosed it as Fowl Pox. She also had a cough/sneeze and rattle when she breathed. He put her on baytril and sent us on our way. Since then she has many more fowl pox lesions which from what I've read is normal. However, in the last few days I noticed that another one of my girls has a little mucous coming from her nose as well as a cough/sneeze. Then tonight as I was putting them to bed I notice that the original girl with fowl pox has a swollen eye. Is this another lesion starting or am I battling something else entirely? Please help. I'm so worried that I'll lose one or all of them. I think my vet is getting tired of me calling all the time too and don't want to tick off the only chicken doctor in my area.

As a side note I did vaccinate the other two for fowl pox after finding out the first one had them.

Thanks,
Courtney

 

[featherz]

Well.. I've had bad fowl pox before and if the eye is just swollen without lesions, it could be that a respiratory infection has set in. (something the bird already had or caught from the other bird).

Most likely mycoplasma, Infectious bronchitis or something similar. I am not sure if baytril covers mycoplasma or not, most folks here use tylan or denagard.

It COULD also be 'wet fowl pox' but in my bird that had that she did not have swollen sinuses or mucous, but had trouble breathing due to pox lesions in her mouth and throat. She also had external lesions as well as the ones in her mouth. If you don't see any pox lesions I'd start thinking respiratory infection.

As your name is 'veganfarmer' I assume you will not be culling (killing) these birds - just know if it's a respiratory infection like mycoplasma the birds will remain carriers to any other birds you bring in.

You are lucky to have a vet to check with! Swabs could be sent to a lab to figure out what you are dealing with.

 

[VeganFarmer]

Thanks for the advice. I did take her in today and the vet assures me that the swollen eye is still part of the fowl pox as is the sneezing/coughing. All hens are now on baytril...again...until fowl pox clears up.