Swollen, oozing eyes in hen

[CheshireKat]

Our hen Marie-Louise has been getting sick on and off with respiratory issues, which we always treated as they occurred.
Six days ago her left eye was swollen shut when we came into the barn in the morning, the next day her other eye followed. There was yellow stuff in her eyes. She also had her usual respiratory issues.
We have been feeding her nutrients , giving her apple cider vinegar. Injecting Tylene 50 twice a day for 4 days now. Also giving her Goldenseal in her food. We used Oxytetracycline-HCI in her water and saline solution to cleanse her eyes. While her breathing sounds and the yellow stuff in her eyes have disappeared, her eyes are still swollen. She opens her left eye from time to time, because it's less swollen, but most of the time she keeps it shut. We are trying Neosporin now, but nothing seems to be helping with the eyes and we have no idea what to do or try next.
She is a heavy bird and a little hog, she still tries to walk around, but obviously that isn't working out very well. I just wish she was better already

 

[Eggcessive]

Welcome to BYC. Respiratory infections are chronic in chickens, and the flock all become carriers, so it's hard to get rid of one, once it it is in the flock. Swollen eyes with sticky drainage can be mycoplasma (MG or CRD,) or it could be coryza (especially if there is a bad odor. If pus develops and hardens around the sinuses and eyes, sometimes the eyes can remain swollen, and the pus may need to be removed. You may want to get her tested to see what she has exactly. Tylan 50 works well on MG, but Sulfadimethoxine or Sulmet may treat symptoms of coryza better. Here are some links for testing centers and your state vet if you would need a necropsy:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/nahln/downloads/all_nahln_lab_list.pdf
http://www.usaha.org/Portals/6/StateAnimalHealthOfficials.pdf

Here are some links about MG and coryza to read:
http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/pou...lasma_gallisepticum_infection_in_poultry.html
http://umaine.edu/livestock/poultry/mycoplasma-gallisepticum-faq/
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/disea...ction-mg-chronic-respiratory-disease-chickens
http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/pou...verview_of_infectious_coryza_in_chickens.html

 

[CheshireKat]

Thank you so much!
We will try to get some Sulfadimethoxine or Sulmet today.
The yellow pus has been gone for a few days, as well as the bad smell. But clear stuff is still oozing out of her eyes.

 

[CheshireKat]

Marie-Louise died last night

 

[hen madame]

I'm so sorry. How old was she?

 

[CheshireKat]

About 1.5 years. She was the friendliest and biggest bird we had. She was heavier than our rooster, even when she died she was still heavier than the other ones. The swelling in her right eye
just wouldn't go away, the vet didn't know anything else we could've done either.

 

[Eggcessive]

So sorry about losing your Marie-Louise.

 

[hen madame]

I love her name, very sweet! Isn't it amazing how quickly become attached to our girls?

 

[CheshireKat]

It's very easy when they are that friendly!
I named her Marie-Louise (Duchess of Parma), because she would always hang out with our rooster Napoleon. In real life Napoleons second wife was named Marie-Louise. Our rooster had a first wife, which died too and she was named Joséphine de Beauharnais, after the real Napoleons first wife. Napoleon and Joséphine would never leave each others side and he didn't have a best buddy for months after she died and then we got Marie-Louise and it was instant chicken love

 

[hen madame]

Obviously very inspired names!

Oh no, is Napoleon still with you? If he is, how is he coping? You might have to get another lady for him and start naming them after his mistresses (Maria Countess Walewska, perhaps?).