SICK HENS --- PLEASE HELP -- Puffy, Crusty Eyes

[Krazy4Chicks]

My hens are dealing with what I thought might be some sort of an eye infection, but now I'm not so sure. I've been treating one hen with Terramycin ointment for the past couple of days. But this morning, when I went out to check on them (5 silkie hens, and 1 silkie rooster), that hen's eyes looked swelled and were shut. Now I'm noticing that the other hens' eyes have that "sleepy" look. They all seem to have kinda crusty eyes. Here's a picture of the one that is the worst:



There's no sneezing, or breathing issues to indicate a URI, but from what I've read, it sounds like it could be a URI. With other hens starting up, I'm really scared. The only antibiotic I have, which I have used in the past for a URI is Tetroxy HCA-280. I've put that in their water (1/2 tsp per Gallon). Please, anyone, I'm not sure what else to do, so any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Eggcessive]

Mycoplasma (MG) can cause watery or crusty eyes with swelling around the eyes. It's a chronic respiratory disease spread by a carrier bird. Oxytetracycline that you are using is one of the drugs to use to treat symptoms, but you can also use Tylan 50 injectable, and give it orally. For a silky 1/4 ml twice a day for 5 days would be good. Sick birds may not drink enough of the medicated water. It helps to separate and treat only the sick ones. Clean the eyes with saline, and then twice a day use the Terramycin ointment or Vetericyn eye gel twice a day. Testing is about the only way to know for certain what disease they have, since many of them look similar. E.coli infection or other bacteria can always complicate a respiratory disease. Here is a good link to compare the symptoms of MG, coryza, ILT, and infectious bronchitis:
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

 

[Krazy4Chicks]

Thanks so much for the info, Eggcessive. I just called a feed store (about a 30 minute drive away) and they have the Tylan 50. So I'm going to run down and pick it up, along with some syringes. With regard to how to administer it, I'm wondering if it would be better to inject it vs. giving it orally. From what I've read, it can burn their throats?? What do you think? I've never done an injection, but if I have to, I will do whatever it takes. I just know that I need to do something fast.

 

[Eggcessive]

It doesn't matter which way it is given, but the injectable will be more quickly absorbed. It is not a great amount to swallow (1/4 ml) so you can always dilute it with a few drops of milk or buttermilk, but I don't think it hurts them. It has been known to cause irritation at the site of injection, and in a bantam I would prefer to give it orally. If you give the injection, use a 22 gauge needle and only inject 1/4 inch into the breast muscle.

 

[Krazy4Chicks]

Okay, so I picked up the Tylan 50; however, they sent me home with 25 gauge syringes with needles -- they look so big! Maybe you are right -- I might try the oral method, as I'm so afraid of hurting her. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this will kick whatever's going on!

 

[Krazy4Chicks]

Actually, my daughter (who is a nursing student) gave the first dose by injection. Right now, I just wanted the method that would get to her system the quickest. But with there being two doses needed each day of 1/4 ml, would there be anything wrong with doing one dose orally, and one dose by injection? Or should I stay with one way or the other? I thought that by doing so, it wouldn't create as much soreness for the poor little thing with having two injections each day. Just wondering your thoughts on that. Thankfully, she's still eating with no problems.

 

[Eggcessive]

I think that is a good suggestion to give one dose daily as a shot, and the other orally. Many people only give it once a day, so this should do a very good job.

 

[Krazy4Chicks]

Okay, great! Thanks again for all of your help -- I really appreciate it.

I just gave the oral dose this morning (added a little milk to it like you suggested), and applied the Terramycin ointment to her eyes (which are still swollen). The oral method is less stressful for me; but my daughter said she has no problem giving the one injection each day.

So my plan of action with the other hens that have the crusty eyes is to just keep adding the Tetroxy HCA-280 to their drinking water, and just give the Tylan 50 to this one hen (which is in the worst shape). Then if any of the others get worse, I can resort to the Tylan 50 for them also. The amount of Tetroxy that I'm adding is 1/2 tsp per gallon of water (which I was told by the feed store) once a day. Does that sound about right?

 

[Krazy4Chicks]

It doesn't matter which way it is given, but the injectable will be more quickly absorbed. It is not a great amount to swallow (1/4 ml) so you can always dilute it with a few drops of milk or buttermilk, but I don't think it hurts them. It has been known to cause irritation at the site of injection, and in a bantam I would prefer to give it orally. If you give the injection, use a 22 gauge needle and only inject 1/4 inch into the breast muscle.

Well, I tried my plan of 1 injection and 1 oral each day. On the 2nd day, the injection seemed to make her too sore. She became lethargic -- just too scary for me. So now I am going with what you said and giving it orally only (twice per day). Like you said, orally seems like the best method for Silkies (bantams). So again, thank you for your suggestion!! I just thought I'd mention this to anyone else out there that's needing to give Tylan 50 to bantams.

Anyway, I'm finally starting to see improvement in her. Have a couple more days to go with the Tylan 50 and Terramycin ointment. I don't know what I'd do without the help of you and others on this forum!!

 

[Eggcessive]

Thanks for the update, and I hope she gets well soon.