Swollen eye (on one side), earlobes, waddle, and comb- help!

[Klkoops]

Hi there!
I adopted a disabled hen 6 months ago (no idea of her age) and she’s always had labored breathing, in addition to only 1 usable leg. Nothing contagious because all our other birds are fine. Today I noticed her membranes on her face have all swollen up, the eye on one side, her comb, waddle, and earlobes. She also appears to have white spots on her waddle. Can anyone help me diagnose?

 

[Eggcessive]

It looks like fowl pox, a virus spread by mosquitoes. It usually goes away in 3-4 weeks. Since she has some bumps around her eye, I would use some Terramycin or plain Neosporin ointment in her eye twice a day. There is no treatment for pox, but some people use povidone iodine or Betadine on scabs applied with a QTip to help dry out the scabs. Don’t disturb them too much since scabs can spread the virus when removed or when they fall off. Do you know why she is only able to use one leg?

 

[Klkoops]

It looks like fowl pox, a virus spread by mosquitoes. It usually goes away in 3-4 weeks. Since she has some bumps around her eye, I would use some Terramycin or plain Neosporin ointment in her eye twice a day. There is no treatment for pox, but some people use povidone iodine or Betadine on scabs applied with a QTip to help dry out the scabs. Don’t disturb them too much since scabs can spread the virus when removed or when they fall off. Do you know why she is only able to use one leg?

I don’t, actually. It looks like maybe a birth defect or more likely, an animal attack. The lame leg is bent at a strange angle and has a knot at the joint. The foot of the useful leg has toes that go in all the wrong directions. She gets around ok, but we have to manually help her into the coop at night. She’s such a sweet girl and so protective of her silky bonded-partner. She’s also had this respiratory issue since we’ve gotten her that comes and goes. None of the other chickens have ever shown the same symptoms so we don’t worry too much about it. The vet also tried treating it but to no avail. We just pick her nasal passages clean every so often (carefully) and give her lots of love. Thank you for your help!

 

[Eggcessive]

You’re welcome for the help. It is nice that you have given them a good home. Many chicks can have birth defects of leg problems when there has been an incubator issue with temperatures or humidity.