Puffy eyes and bubbles

[bokbokbokBOKBOKBOKBKAAA]

Hi I have a very similar thing happening with my chickens this month, no respiratory symptoms, just swollen eyelid. We believe it is dry fowl pox, though mild (but the eyelid swelling not mild). It's transmitted by mosquitoes (I am in NH). It is VERY important to put terramycin ointment in their eyes as soon as possible to prevent further infection in the eye. It can be prescribed by a vet or available on Jedds for pigeons.

Unfortunately our rooster who had it first had a much worse infection happen in the eye, but the other chickens who got the terramycin immediately recovered quickly.

We had tons of tests done including all of the respiratory diseases (MG, IC, etc.) and they were all negative. Now we recognize the tiny black pox marks that we thought were peck marks, we are pretty certain it's fowl pox. There are also some black spots on they beaks.

Massachusetts will test your birds for mycoplasma for free btw.

 

[Ecarroll]

Hi I have a very similar thing happening with my chickens this month, no respiratory symptoms, just swollen eyelid. We believe it is dry fowl pox, though mild (but the eyelid swelling not mild). It's transmitted by mosquitoes (I am in NH). It is VERY important to put terramycin ointment in their eyes as soon as possible to prevent further infection in the eye. It can be prescribed by a vet or available on Jedds for pigeons.

Unfortunately our rooster who had it first had a much worse infection happen in the eye, but the other chickens who got the terramycin immediately recovered quickly.

We had tons of tests done including all of the respiratory diseases (MG, IC, etc.) and they were all negative. Now we recognize the tiny black pox marks that we thought were peck marks, we are pretty certain it's fowl pox. There are also some black spots on they beaks.

Massachusetts will test your birds for mycoplasma for free btw.

Thank you! Would this have the bubbles though?

 

[Ecarroll]

Massachusetts will test your birds for mycoplasma for free btw.

I did some digging, and it is unclear if they only test this for NPIP certification for show people and breeders?

 

[bokbokbokBOKBOKBOKBKAAA]

Regarding bubbles, there were very few, and it wasn't obvious at first, and it wouldn't really come through in pictures. Only with close inspection could I tell that there were a couple bubbles. It was evident in my hens and not in the rooster. It is my understanding that mycoplasma is a lot of bubbles/foaming.

Regarding the testing, I would call their phone number on that page and ask. I just tried but it's after business hours and they're closed, I found this flyer though. If it is anything like NH, they are more than happy to test backyard flocks and educate flock owners. Doing the testing is not the same as becoming NPIP, but NPIP includes the same testing and testing personnel/lab.

It is my understanding that if your flock tests positive for mycoplasma your flock will be quarantined (no adding or selling chickens, can only hatch within the flock). I would ask them on the phone if that's the case.

(Side note -- because of the quarantine rule, very few hatcheries test for Mycoplasma. I have done much investigating on this topic to come to that conclusion and can share more info if you are interested. The places that do that are NPIP certified are usually the egg producers that have their eggs used to create vaccines. I believe this is why it is so prevalent in backyard flocks.)

Conversely, instead of using the State for free, a veterinarian can send out samples for PCR Respiratory panel test for a few hundred dollars, which includes a litany of respiratory diseases including mycoplasma, and I don't know if they have the same quarantining repercussions as the state. That would involve a trip to the vet (stressful on the bird), the cost of the visit (~$200), plus the cost of testing and the shipping & handling (~$400).

 

[Ecarroll]

Regarding bubbles, there were very few, and it wasn't obvious at first, and it wouldn't really come through in pictures. Only with close inspection could I tell that there were a couple bubbles. It was evident in my hens and not in the rooster. It is my understanding that mycoplasma is a lot of bubbles/foaming.

Regarding the testing, I would call their phone number on that page and ask. I just tried but it's after business hours and they're closed, I found this flyer though. If it is anything like NH, they are more than happy to test backyard flocks and educate flock owners. Doing the testing is not the same as becoming NPIP, but NPIP includes the same testing and testing personnel/lab.

It is my understanding that if your flock tests positive for mycoplasma your flock will be quarantined (no adding or selling chickens, can only hatch within the flock). I would ask them on the phone if that's the case.

(Side note -- because of the quarantine rule, very few hatcheries test for Mycoplasma. I have done much investigating on this topic to come to that conclusion and can share more info if you are interested. The places that do that are NPIP certified are usually the egg producers that have their eggs used to create vaccines. I believe this is why it is so prevalent in backyard flocks.)

Conversely, instead of using the State for free, a veterinarian can send out samples for PCR Respiratory panel test for a few hundred dollars, which includes a litany of respiratory diseases including mycoplasma, and I don't know if they have the same quarantining repercussions as the state. That would involve a trip to the vet (stressful on the bird), the cost of the visit (~$200), plus the cost of testing and the shipping & handling (~$400).

So the state people would have to come to my house? I’m not sure if I’ll do the testing, as quarantine seems harsh (the not adding new birds, ofc I will not be giving away birds if they have MG). Also I’m still wondering if the antibiotics are nessicary if they don’t seem to be hurt by the symptoms?

 

[Anon112]

Can I ask what people mean by "bubbles"? Is it like a foaming in the eye?

My chick still has a bit of swelling in her one eyelid. She's eating and drinking, moving, scratching, foraging, etc normally, no sneezing/coughing or anything else.

I'm reluctant to go the antibiotic route if it's not necessary. I'm just curious what the bubbles would look like.

 

[bokbokbokBOKBOKBOKBKAAA]

So the state people would have to come to my house? I’m not sure if I’ll do the testing, as quarantine seems harsh (the not adding new birds, ofc I will not be giving away birds if they have MG). Also I’m still wondering if the antibiotics are nessicary if they don’t seem to be hurt by the symptoms?

If it is a bacterial disease, such as mycoplasma, then antibiotics can be effective (specifically tetracyclines like doxycycline, and tylosin). If it is a virus, such as fowl pox, there is no treatment (other than supportive care or prior vaccines to prevent) and antibiotics would only treat secondary infections if there are any, or help prevent them, like the eyeball of my rooster.

Yes, the state sends testers to your house and they take blood samples of each bird and put a little metal band around their ankle.

I definitely recommend reading the Lisa Steele blog post on fowl pox, it is extremely helpful and the pix look like your birds.

Can I ask what people mean by "bubbles"? Is it like a foaming in the eye?

My chick still has a bit of swelling in her one eyelid. She's eating and drinking, moving, scratching, foraging, etc normally, no sneezing/coughing or anything else.

I'm reluctant to go the antibiotic route if it's not necessary. I'm just curious what the bubbles would look like.

Here is a pic of my hens eye with suspected fowl pox, where she has a few bubbles:

Here is a pic of foaming/bubbles associated with mycoplasma (it can be much worse than this pic):

Picture Source: Deer Run Farm, one of the only backyard hatcheries to test for mycoplasma

 

[Anon112]

Thank you so much! I was looking at her eyes (both sides) really closely tonight and I didn't see anything in the eyes themselves. Her one eyelid is still a bit puffed up, but I think it's going down? But I wasn't exactly sure where to look for the bubbling. Very helpful, thank you!

If she still seems swollen in another day or two, I'll post some pictures for opinions from you guys.

 

[bokbokbokBOKBOKBOKBKAAA]

Thank you so much! I was looking at her eyes (both sides) really closely tonight and I didn't see anything in the eyes themselves. Her one eyelid is still a bit puffed up, but I think it's going down? But I wasn't exactly sure where to look for the bubbling. Very helpful, thank you!

If she still seems swollen in another day or two, I'll post some pictures for opinions from you guys.

Is she keeping her eye closed?

I want to add that for my rooster, I waited a couple days before taking him to the vet, and he he subsequently got a very bad secondary infection that is still not healed. For my hens I immediately gave them terramycin for a couple days and they are fine. Pic of my rooster on day 1 (I regret not having terramycin on hand):

I don't mean to scare you, but I do think the terramycin is extremely helpful for eye issues and preventing a bacterial infection. I highly recommend getting it, it requires a prescription from a vet but this website sells it for pigeons without a prescription.

 

[KRack]

I noticed a little while ago that a couple of my chickens had a swollen, puffy eye, just one side.
Similar thing happened last year, with maybe two or three birds. I made a post here, was told not to worry about it. It passed, they where fine. I figured it might have been mosquito or tick bites (no matter what people say, chickens DO get ticks, especially on there face), but they get ticks without getting puffy eye before so…
But now I noticed yesterday that my rooster who has a swollen eye also now has bubbles in the corner of his eye. Today the bubbles from his eye are gone. This morning my 6ish week old with swollen eye also had bubbles, and worse swelling, now bubbles are gone.
I can’t remember exactly which ones had it earlier, but it seems to be getting less severe in everyone else.
If it helps to know we had some hot weather earlier this week. Also the chickens who had it last year have been rehomed (cockerel), or died (hawk attack).
What does this mean/should I be doing something for them?
Six week old, bad swelling, had bubbles earlier-
View attachment 4161139

Rooster, swelling, had bubbles yesterday-View attachment 4161140

Pullet, swelling going down- View attachment 4161141

My birds had these symptoms, I treated them with Tylosin and the symptoms went away. The only symptoms they had the first time (a few years ago) were puffy eyes with bubbles. This last time they got it they struggled with breathing, but it was the hottest most humid part of the year so I’m sure that didn’t help.