Puss in my chooks eye.

[Jpmorson]

We have an Australorp that has recently started developing puss in one of her eyes.
She’s also been very antisocial and hiding away under our deck when we let them out to free range.

I have included two photos. One of her good eye the other with the puss.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[Eggcessive]

Welcome to BYC. Puss in an eye can be a sign of an infection from getting something into the eye, a pecking wound, and from respiratory diseases such as mycoplasma (MG) or coryza. Other bacteria such as E.coli and others may be responsible for eye infections or peck wounds.
Does she seem lethargic, or have other symptoms such as sneeze or cough, rattly breathing or wheezing, or labored breathing?

I would clean the eye with water or saline, and apply some Terramycin eye ointment from the feed store, sold in tiny tube. Get any puss out with QTips or a tool, and squeezing may be needed. Plain Neosporin or Triple Antibiotic Ointment can be used if you cannot find Terramycin.

If you believe the eye puss is from a respiratory infection, Tylan 50 injectable (but given orally) can help MG symptoms. Coryza may be better treated with sulfa antibiotics from a vet, or a combination of sulfa and Tylan. Check to see if there is a bad odor from the face.

 

[Eggcessive]

Read and look at the videos in post 9 of this thread for removing puss from an eye—warning, they are graphic:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/eye-injury-infection-and-treatment.1259877/#post-20234163

 

[Jpmorson]

Thanks for responding.
She doesn’t seem to have breathing issues. I’ll do the clean out with saline and see if our local has some of that Terramycin.
Our problem is that our chickens didn’t grow up with us handling them. They don’t like to be touched so being able to do this will be tricky. Any advice on this?

Welcome to BYC. Puss in an eye can be a sign of an infection from getting something into the eye, a pecking wound, and from respiratory diseases such as mycoplasma (MG) or coryza. Other bacteria such as E.coli and others may be responsible for eye infections or peck wounds.
Does she seem lethargic, or have other symptoms such as sneeze or cough, rattly breathing or wheezing, or labored breathing?

I would clean the eye with water or saline, and apply some Terramycin eye ointment from the feed store, sold in tiny tube. Get any puss out with QTips or a tool, and squeezing may be needed. Plain Neosporin or Triple Antibiotic Ointment can be used if you cannot find Terramycin.

If you believe the eye puss is from a respiratory infection, Tylan 50 injectable (but given orally) can help MG symptoms. Coryza may be better treated with sulfa antibiotics from a vet, or a combination of sulfa and Tylan. Check to see if there is a bad odor from the face.

 

[coach723]

Thanks for responding.
She doesn’t seem to have breathing issues. I’ll do the clean out with saline and see if our local has some of that Terramycin.
Our problem is that our chickens didn’t grow up with us handling them. They don’t like to be touched so being able to do this will be tricky. Any advice on this?

If she's hard to catch, wait until she goes to roost and take her off the roost, or get her early in the morning before the sun is up. Use a light weight bath towel to wrap her up (like a burrito) to hold her wings in, with just her head sticking out. If you have a helper so one can hold the bird and one can work on the eye that will probably be easier, but I usually manage by myself so it can be done if necessary. If you lay them on their back it usually calms them, though she may struggle a bit initially. Give yourself a block of time, and take your time as it's not something you really want to rush. Remember to breathe.

 

[Jpmorson]

Haha thank you. I’ll make sure my breathing is cool calm and collected

 

[Eggcessive]

Agreed. I usually wait until after dark, and use a headlamp with the red light on to slip into the coop, and grab each one to perform some treatment or examination. Very few of my chickens will let me pick them up except for a few banties.