Swollen eye, white film

[Hen Pen Jem]

What is the black substance on her comb?

 

[Hwy9fam]

I'm not sure. I thought maybe fowl pox since my others have that too. Someone else mentioned it could be pecking injury as well.

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

I am concerned about this. It appears to be around her nostrils too.

There should be no discolorations, film, or growths on the comb or wattles. The texture of the skin should be soft and waxy.

This can be a fungal infection that has entered the eye, it may even be in the sinuses.

Do you have access to a vet? They have an array of anti-fungals that could be used. And a vet could do a scraping to look at it under a microscope.

If it was bacterial, there would have been some improvement by now.

Has the swelling gone done?

Until you can get to a vet, I would flush the eye and nostrils with sterile saline solution, then pat dry. Saline will inhibit the growth of fungus, but not kill it.

You should stop the antibiotic, if it is not working.

You really need to get some colloidal silver. They won't have it at a farm/feed store.
You'll find some at a health food store or online. I just purchased a bottle at Amazon. I use 1100 ppm, strength. But, you can use 20-30 ppm. 2 drops in both eyes, every 3 hours for the first two days, then, three times a day, till healed.

Depending on the species of fungus, it could take weeks to heal. If it is a stubborn fungus you may even have to use an anti-fungal and the colloidal silver drops.

Fungal infection of the eye is not good, the chicken can go blind, if not treated properly soon.

Remember, this is just surmising on the issue. Without testing, all that can be done is eliminating possible causes.

Very frustrating...I will do some research on a possible over the counter anti-fungal medication that maybe can be used, in lieu of a vet prescribed.

 

[Hwy9fam]

Thank you so much for your thoughts. We will try to get her to a vet, seems like there is one north of here a ways. Also ordering some colloidal silver.

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Awesome!

Do discuss the possibility of a fungal infection with the vet. Let them know that you have unsuccessfully treated for bacterial infection.

Sometimes a vet will do the same thing you've already done. Just be tactful, you know how doctors are...

Hopefully they will examine some of the tissue under a microscope.

Let me know how things go.

God Bless

 

[Hwy9fam]

Thanks so much. Now that we are researching fungus as well, it makes sense since our other birds are showing signs too. Maybe from the soil? Definitely want to get this taken care of

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

You can also attack any possible fungal issue by adding the following foods to the chicken's diet.

Fungi don't do well in a high alkaline environment, so if you can raise the ph level in the chicken's blood, that will be helpful.

These are all foods I feed my chickens almost daily!

I did have a yeast infect my rooster's comb, after two courses of antibiotics. It was easily cured by spritzing his comb with colloidal water in a spray bottle. You can't stop microbes entirely, but a healthful diet will give the chicken better resistance and healing strength.

Plus, your girls will give delicious dark yellow yolks!

Greens:
kale, chard, beet greens, dandelion, spinach, radish and turnip tops, wheat grass, alfalfa grass
Other vegies:
cucumber, jicama, broccoli, oregano, garlic, ginger, endive, cabbage, zucchini
Fruit:
honeydew melon, watermelon, tomatoes
Fat:
coconut oil, drizzled into feed
Other:
Apple Cider Vinegar in the water (seems acidic, but actually raises the pH)

If you have some water test strips (can be bought where aquarium supplies are sold), you can test your water. You may have water with a low pH of 6.5 or lower. This will explain the growth of fungi, as acidic environments encourage fungal growth.

Fungi like bacteria, are everywhere, just waiting for the opportunity to multiply.

God Bless

 

[Eggcessive]

I would think the black marks on her comb are from pecking or injury while trying to avoid pecking. The eye film really looks like bacterial infection to me, either from a respiratory infection or injury.

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

I would think the black marks on her comb are from pecking or injury while trying to avoid pecking. The eye film really looks like bacterial infection to me, either from a respiratory infection or injury.

This is what I thought too. But, there is no improvement after two different antibiotic ointments, and it's getting worse.

Fungal eye infections present with clouding film also.

This really needs to be looked at under a microscope. It is definitely an infection, the eye and sinuses are involved, but one can't be certain, whether it is bacterial or fungal just by looking at a picture.

There are no other upper respiratory symptoms, sneezing, discharge, etc.

A pecking injury usually has dots of blood, evident of the skin bleeding and scabbing. But that black substance looks like growth over a large part of the comb and around the nostril.

A vet should look at it.

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

This is what I thought too. But, there is no improvement after two different antibiotic ointments, and it's getting worse.

Fungal eye infections present with clouding film also.

This really needs to be looked at under a microscope. It is definitely an infection, the eye and sinuses are involved, but one can't be certain, whether it is bacterial or fungal just by looking at a picture.

There are no other upper respiratory symptoms, sneezing, discharge, etc.

A pecking injury usually has dots of blood, evident of the skin bleeding and scabbing. But that black substance looks like growth over a large part of the comb and around the nostril.

A vet should look at it.

Hopefully, this is not a antibiotic resistant strain. If it is, a vet will be able to work with you on that.