What’s wrong with my hen??

[a_harrison9]

Both of the corners of my hens eyes look weird. I’ve had a few respiratory problems this year I’ve had to deal with so now I am very paranoid there could be something wrong with her. The respiratory problems I’ve had in some of my other hens were sneezing, coughing, and a slightly runny nose. None of my other hens eyes look this way though. She is acting fine, and eating and drinking. She does do a head twitch occasionally so maybe it could be respiratory related as well. I didn’t want to treat her if she isn’t sick acting because she isn’t acting sick. Has anyone ever seen this?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Both of the corners of my hens eyes look weird. I’ve had a few respiratory problems this year I’ve had to deal with so now I am very paranoid there could be something wrong with her. The respiratory problems I’ve had in some of my other hens were sneezing, coughing, and a slightly runny nose. None of my other hens eyes look this way though. She is acting fine, and eating and drinking. She does do a head twitch occasionally so maybe it could be respiratory related as well. I didn’t want to treat her if she isn’t sick acting because she isn’t acting sick. Has anyone ever seen this?

Looks like she may have conjunctivitis, or the sunken eye could be a symptom of Mycoplasma.

With Mycoplasma, birds remain carriers for life and can become symptomatic over and over again.

Flush the eye with saline, apply an eye ointment like Terramcyin in the eye, see if that helps over the course of several days.

Do look inside the ears to make sure they are clean with no infection or bugs (mites).

If the symptoms don't resolve or she worsens, then treating with an antibiotic like Tylosin or Denagard (Tiamulin) would be the next step to take.

 

[a_harrison9]

Looks like she may have conjunctivitis, or the sunken eye could be a symptom of Mycoplasma.

With Mycoplasma, birds remain carriers for life and can become symptomatic over and over again.

Flush the eye with saline, apply an eye ointment like Terramcyin in the eye, see if that helps over the course of several days.

Do look inside the ears to make sure they are clean with no infection or bugs (mites).

If the symptoms don't resolve or she worsens, then treating with an antibiotic like Tylosin or Denagard (Tiamulin) would be the next step to take.

Okay thank you so much for your reply. If my flock does have mycoplasma, is it the end of the world? Of course I’m not sure if they do or not because I would have to go get them tested for it, but I’m a little discouraged at the moment. I’ve dealt with a lot of respiratory issues in my flock all spring and it feels like I can’t catch a break some weeks. A lot of people say to cull and start over, but I really don’t think that’s even necessary because I read that most all flocks are carriers of mycoplasma and wild birds could even carry it.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Okay thank you so much for your reply. If my flock does have mycoplasma, is it the end of the world? Of course I’m not sure if they do or not because I would have to go get them tested for it, but I’m a little discouraged at the moment. I’ve dealt with a lot of respiratory issues in my flock all spring and it feels like I can’t catch a break some weeks. A lot of people say to cull and start over, but I really don’t think that’s even necessary because I read that most all flocks are carriers of mycoplasma and wild birds could even carry it.

Keep a closed flock if you suspect Mycoplasma. All of your birds will be considered carriers, even if they have never shown symptoms.