Swollen left eye area

[TheLaboratoryBF]

Hello! I have a 16-week-old Russian Orloff pullet with a swollen left eye area that is stretching her eyelid out. This popped up within the last 24 hours as she did not have this swelling yesterday morning. There is no bubbling/discharge at the swelling site and she is showing no other symptoms (no sneezing/coughing/wheezing, is eating and drinking with vigor, active with her flock mates, preening as usual, etc.). Both eyes are clear and her vision seems to be unaffected. The swelling is not squishy but also not rock hard. It has slight give when I press. I have not attempted to extract any fluid. It’s about the size of a pea.

I have been having a problem with bully/bullies in the flock and am treating another pullet for a scalping so I am assuming this girl was pecked in/near the eye (unless anyone has any other suggestions). Currently treating her with Terramycin ointment and Vetericyn spray.

Thanks, experts!

Swollen left eye area

Normal right eye

Normal right eye and swollen left eye area

 

[Stipenvlerk]

I personally would isolate her from the flock for now.
Since, to me, it looks like conjunctivitis...

https://www.researchgate.net/figure...periorbital-cellulitis-in-bird_fig2_326831672

I’m not an expert so don’t trust me on my word, but to be on the safe side, better to isolate until somebody else confirms or denies it.

 

[Eggcessive]

There is no need to isolate unless she is being bullied more. If she has conjunctivitis from a respiratory disease such mycoplasma. (MG,) the others would have already been exposed. I would continue with applying the Terramycin ointment 2-3 times a day to the eye. If bubbles or pus appear in the eye, then I would try to get an oral antibiotic to treat—something like Tylosin, oxytetracycline, doxycycline, Denagard, or Baytril (Baytril is banned for chickens, but sometimes prescribed for certain bacterial infections.)

 

[Stipenvlerk]

There is no need to isolate unless she is being bullied more. If she has conjunctivitis from a respiratory disease such mycoplasma. (MG,) the others would have already been exposed. I would continue with applying the Terramycin ointment 2-3 times a day to the eye. If bubbles or pus appear in the eye, then I would try to get an oral antibiotic to treat—something like Tylosin, oxytetracycline, doxycycline, Denagard, or Baytril (Baytril is banned for chickens, but sometimes prescribed for certain bacterial infections.)

Thank you for your answer @Eggcessive, just curious: Let's say you suspect it to be some respiratory disease like MG and you are starting treatment. Are you treating the whole flock or only the one with visible symptoms?

 

[TheLaboratoryBF]

Thanks, all. The swelling has gone down slightly this morning (and still no discharge or other symptoms) so I will continue with the Terramycin and Vetericyn treatment. The bullying hens have been separated from the flock so neither she nor the scalped pullet are being bullied now.

 

[Eggcessive]

It is best to treat only the sick birds so to not create antibiotic resistance. Some vets might have you go ahead and treat the whole flock, though. This can be done by separating the chicken in a wire dog crate with food and water, or by medicating orally twice a day if they are not separated.

 

[TheLaboratoryBF]

Thanks, @Eggcessive. In the event she does take a turn for the worse, assuming this will work? It is the only antibiotic I have in my first-aid kit (they’re tough to get in CA without a vet thanks to the VFD).

 

[Eggcessive]

That one can treat MG, and it and others have been gone from feed stores for over 3 years. The maximum dosage is 1 tablespoonful (3 tsp) per gallon of water for 7 days.

 

[TheLaboratoryBF]

That one can treat MG, and it and others have been gone from feed stores for over 3 years. The maximum dosage is 1 tablespoonful (3 tsp) per gallon of water for 7 days.

Yes, that’s what I meant by VFD. Thank you for the dosage!