Eye issues, sick chicks need help!

[casportpony]

I wouldn't lance it. give it a couple more days then maybe very carefully grab it with tweezers. It's quite possible that the infection has invaded his eyeball. If that's the case, he will probably lose they eye. Don't freak out, just give him a little more time. Can you post more pictures at different angles?

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

You might want to consider tube feeding the sickest ones and I'm available by phone to help.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/805728/go-team-tube-feeding

-Kathy

 

[Eggcessive]

They seem to be in good hands with you taking care of them. I wouldn't feel bad about your wife giving the injection when the chick died--it could happen to any of us, and has quite a few times here on the forum when people have given Tylan or Penicillin injections into the breast muscle. It's the safest place for IM injections, but so near the heart and important organs. I don't have much practical experience with respiratory diseases, but MG, coryza, and ILT seem to be the worst ones. IB is bad in chicks, but it is usually because they get the secondary infections. I hope every one starts getting better.

 

[mesquiteman]

Here is a pic of the roo from the other side. He looks quite normal from there. I will have to try to get some pics from other angles on his bad side tomorrow when it is daylight.

Thank you all again for the help thus far!

 

[mesquiteman]

Oh, and thank you VERY much for the offer of telephone help, Kathy. I do sincerely appreciate it. The sickest one, the Swedish Flower Hen, was eating and drinking on her own some this afternoon and evening before I her to roost. Her crop had stuff in it so I think she is ok from that standpoint. I really expected her to be dead by now but by darn, at 12:35 am, she is still kicking! This afternoon she was feeling so bad that she would just lay on the floor and not raise her head at all. Now, at least while she is "sleeping" she is standing and looks pretty good. Maybe the Tylan shot this afternoon is already making her feel better. I hope so. I have lost enough chicks and this one I am determined to give it my all to keep her alive!

 

[mesquiteman]

One question for those more experienced...lets assume it is something such as mycoplasma or coryza. I know that if it is one of those, my entire flock is infected and will always be carriers. Is it unethical of me to bring in more chicks in the future? Of course I know that it is highly likely any new birds could have problems as well. Also, IF I am able to keep all of the current chicks alive get the two sick ones back to health, is there a way that I can have them tested while alive? Remember, I do not have access to a vet that treats chickens.

 

[dawg53]

One question for those more experienced...lets assume it is something such as mycoplasma or coryza. I know that if it is one of those, my entire flock is infected and will always be carriers. Is it unethical of me to bring in more chicks in the future? Of course I know that it is highly likely any new birds could have problems as well. Also, IF I am able to keep all of the current chicks alive get the two sick ones back to health, is there a way that I can have them tested while alive? Remember, I do not have access to a vet that treats chickens.

With ANY respiratory disease you must maintain a closed flock. No new birds in, no birds out, no selling or giving away eggs to be hatched as MG is passed through eggs. If you bring in new birds, they will be infected by surviving carrier birds.
That said, if you knew how and what internal damage is done to birds that contract these diseases, you would NOT bring in more birds to cause their suffering. This is why they should be culled to end their suffering and prevent the spread of these diseases.
Antibiotics only mask symptoms and whatever bacteria is involved will eventually build resistance to the antibiotic requiring you to use a more expensive/more potent antibiotic. Tylan is potent against most respiratory diseases, when it doesn't work anymore...baytril is next and it's the most potent antibiotic I know of that can be used to treat respiratory diseases in poultry. Baytril is basically the end of the line.
Bloodwork drawn from an infected bird and sent to a lab can determine if you're dealing with a mycoplasma disease. If the results are positive for a mycoplasma disease, there is a product called Denagard that will treat it. There is no resistance nor withdrawal period with Denagard. Remember, it is a treatment for mycoplasma diseases...not coryza nor any other respiratory disease. QC Supply sells it. Keep in mind that IF your birds have a virus or fungus, denagard and all other antibiotics are ineffective and useless treatments. This is another reason to send a bird off for necropsy. Worried about costs? Most states test birds for free or a small fee. Or use the money you're spending on antibiotics to pay for it...then you'll know EXACTLY what your birds have. Then you can treat or cull accordingly.
See Casportpony's links how to prepare a bird for shipping etc...

 

[mesquiteman]

Worried about costs? Most states test birds for free or a small fee.

No, I am not worried about cost at all. Well, unless it was going to be many hundreds! I just don't have any dead birds at the moment. The others that died were disposed of before I had even head of doing it. If I have another die, I will certainly do it. You mention drawing blood and sending it off...have any idea if that is feasible without a vet?

 

[seminolewind]

You may want to call around and see if a vet can draw blood for you. Prior to that, I would call a state animal lab and get instructions about what tube and how to send it. (Texas A&M is good, too). Then send it yourself.

This may not have anything to do with your bird. I had one that got a one eye infection, I used Triple antibiotic ointment and tried Tylan. No improvement . (she was also sleeping a lot and didn't feel good). I tried LS50. No improvement. I tried sulfadimethoxine and it cleared up but that eye is blind.

My other one currently had a swollen eye which looked almost like it had a scab over it. I pulled the scab off and washed his eye with Oil of Olay soap that didn't burn eyes. Then I'm still using Triple abx ointment. I tried sulfadimethoxine. No improvement. Now I'm trying LS50, but only 2 days in. If that doesn't work I'll get tylan. But I may try Penicillin injectable first. It's actually trial and error if you don't know what you're dealing with. Taking an eye swab to the vet may help.

 

[mesquiteman]

I spoke to the breeder I got all my birds from and let them know that I was having an issue. Since this is a completely new flock and I have not been around any other chickens and have not had anyone here that has been around any chickens, it is likely that whatever I have came from their. She assured me they do not have any known issues and was very concerned. She had their vet come out and draw blood for testing and should have results by Friday. They are NPIP certified and state registered but from what I have read, that does not seem to really mean anything. I guess we will see what her vet comes up with. She said if it is myco or coryza, they would have to destroy their entire flock of 300+. That would really suck. I do not believe for a minute that they knowingly sold me anything less than healthy birds and pray for their sake and mine that the tests come back negative.