Two chicks with swollen faces.. need advice

[FarmeRoach]

Hello!
I am in need of help with some chicks I recently brought home. A week ago today, I came out to my ladies yard and found all my chickens and ducks killed by the neighbors dog who had gotten off his lead and literally busted through the run yard's door. All these ladies were happy and healthy and thriving at about 3 months of age. To help from being overwhelmed by sadness, the following day I drove over 2 hours to bring home some new ladies. (The dog has been removed from the situation and we reinforced the yard, now having two layers off fencing and even put up a privacy fence around our backyard to help protect the new batch.) I bought six different breeds, including a barred rock and a buff braham. The following day, I went to a local farmer who had some baby ducks and brought two of them home and introduced them to the chicks. Everyone has gotten along grandly. However, 3 days after purchasing the chicks, the barred rock started to get a swollen eye, so I separated her, bringing her in the house and monitoring her. Then, her entire one side of the face was swollen and inflamed, she was lethargic and would not eat or drink. I added an electrolyte powder to her water. I was so concerned about her, I stayed up all night in my living room chair with her on my chest and the 2nd day she perked up. I have included pictures from the 2nd and 3rd day. Today is the fourth day of her sickness, she is still somewhat swollen, no longer has that inflamed color and her eye is about half way opened, she has a ravenous appetite and she has been so lively, I reintroduced her to the flock to peck around for a little bit, but I will be removing her again tonight to ensure she recovers completely. However! My buff Brahma now has the swollen eye and the beginning of the swollen ear on one side of her head... She is younger than the barred rock and I am concerned... does anyone have any idea what is happening and if so, what should I do?? The past four days have been so exhausting trying to ensure that Joan (my barred rock) lives. I haven't even been able to spend time with the others long enough to name them!

 

[FarmeRoach]

Hello!
I am in need of help with some chicks I recently brought home. A week ago today, I came out to my ladies yard and found all my chickens and ducks killed by the neighbors dog who had gotten off his lead and literally busted through the run yard's door. All these ladies were happy and healthy and thriving at about 3 months of age. To help from being overwhelmed by sadness, the following day I drove over 2 hours to bring home some new ladies. (The dog has been removed from the situation and we reinforced the yard, now having two layers off fencing and even put up a privacy fence around our backyard to help protect the new batch.) I bought six different breeds, including a barred rock and a buff braham. The following day, I went to a local farmer who had some baby ducks and brought two of them home and introduced them to the chicks. Everyone has gotten along grandly. However, 3 days after purchasing the chicks, the barred rock started to get a swollen eye, so I separated her, bringing her in the house and monitoring her. Then, her entire one side of the face was swollen and inflamed, she was lethargic and would not eat or drink. I added an electrolyte powder to her water. I was so concerned about her, I stayed up all night in my living room chair with her on my chest and the 2nd day she perked up. I have included pictures from the 2nd and 3rd day. Today is the fourth day of her sickness, she is still somewhat swollen, no longer has that inflamed color and her eye is about half way opened, she has a ravenous appetite and she has been so lively, I reintroduced her to the flock to peck around for a little bit, but I will be removing her again tonight to ensure she recovers completely. However! My buff Brahma now has the swollen eye and the beginning of the swollen ear on one side of her head... She is younger than the barred rock and I am concerned, I also have added a picture of the buff Brahma ... does anyone have any idea what is happening and if so, what should I do?? The past four days have been so exhausting trying to ensure that Joan (my barred rock) lives. I haven't even been able to spend time with the others long enough to name them!

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

One of my chicks died because I didn't catch it's swollen ear on time.... when I finally saw it, they were already the size of balloons on each of it's ear and the next day he/she passed away. In my case, it was only the ears though.

 

[FarmeRoach]

One of my chicks died because I didn't catch her swollen ear on time.... when I finally saw it, they were already the size of balloons on each of her ear and the next day he/she passed away. In my case, it was only the ears though.

I am so sorry that happened! Do you k ow what caused it?

 

[Eggcessive]

Welcome to BYC. First of all, sorry for the loss of your whole flock. That must have been devastating. Your new chickens have obviously brought in a respiratory disease that may have come on due to the stress of being rehomed. How old are they, and how long have you had them? How long after getting the ducks did the chicken get sick? Do you smell a bad odor around the faces of the two sick birds?

Mycoplasma gallisepticum or MG is a chronic disease that can cause few symptoms or you may see bubbles in the eyes, conjunctivitis or pink eye, sometimes swollen eyes or faces, sneezing, and sleepiness. Infectious coryza causes thick foul smelling mucus from the nostrils, swollen eyes that may have pus, and coughing.

If you think it might be MG, I would get some Tylan 50 from your local feed store, and some syringes with 18 or 20 gauge syringes. Give it by mouth with the needle removed, 0.25 ml per pound 3 times a day for 5 days.
Here is some reading about MG:
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/disea...tion-mg-chronic-respiratory-disease-chickens/

http://extension.umd.edu/sites/extension.umd.edu/files/_docs/programs/poultry/FS-1008 Recognizing and Preventing Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) Infecti....pdf

 

[FarmeRoach]

Welcome to BYC. First of all, sorry for the loss of your whole flock. That must have been devastating. Your new chickens have obviously brought in a respiratory disease that may have come on due to the stress of being rehomed. How old are they, and how long have you had them? How long after getting the ducks did the chicken get sick? Do you smell a bad odor around the faces of the two sick birds?

Thank you for welcoming me!
All the new chicks are young. Joan, the first to get sick is the oldest at 5 and a half weeks old. The now new sick chick is probably a couple of weeks old. I have had them a full week today. It was about three days after getting the ducks that the first got sick. I did notice a runny nose and strange breathing on one of the ducks the first day I got her but after warming up she began breathing more normal but the runny nose hasn't stopped. I have since isolated her. The two sick chicks do not have an odd smell. Other than the swollen side, they are normal. Active, eating and drinking habits are normal, fine stool. This is just my second batch of chickens, and all my first were healthy. I did not realize how fragile these ladies were!