Two birds with eye issues - Coryza?

[Sunny25]

Brand new chicken owner and feeling overwhelmed. Located in Australia.

2 x Pekin Bantams - 12 weeks (adopted 6 weeks ago)
2 x Australorps - 9-10 weeks (adopted 3 weeks ago)

One Pekin started with what looked like an irritated eye; she was wiping it on her feathers. Bottom eyelid looked a little swollen, I thought maybe an injury. I started saline flushing. Today it’s become noticeably swollen above/around the eye, can really see it from the front. No other symptoms, no visible pus or eye crust. No nasal discharge.

Yesterday, one of the Aussies started closing an eye. I’ve seen her wipe it on her feathers. I saline flushed it and wiped today and noticed slight nasal discharge that’s green. No swelling yet.

Both ladies now in quarantine separately. Getting vitamins and/or ACV in the water. I’ve ordered some terramycin eye ointment, some broad spectrum ABs powder, vet rx, worming stuff etc.

Sounds like coryza right? I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed reading online about chickens dying, flocks getting culled etc. Anyone have success stories about dealing with it?

Thank you!

(Only photo I have right now is the Pekin from yesterday when it looked irritated and the bottom eyelid appears swollen.)

 

[Eggcessive]

Conjunctivitis, eye bubbles or gunk, and swollen eyelid can be a sign of respiratory disease in chickens. Mycoplasma (MG,) op is more common, and coryza causes a bad odor and worse symptoms. Are you treating with Oxymav or oxytetracycline? That can treat MG, and some use Tiamulin or enrofloxacin. If treating coryza, many people would cull the bird, or at least use a sulfa antibiotic including sulfadimethoxine or sulfatrim. Here is an article on MG:
https://extension.umd.edu/sites/ext... Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) Infecti....pdf

 

[Sunny25]

Conjunctivitis, eye bubbles or gunk, and swollen eyelid can be a sign of respiratory disease in chickens. Mycoplasma (MG,) op is more common, and coryza causes a bad odor and worse symptoms. Are you treating with Oxymav or oxytetracycline? That can treat MG, and some use Tiamulin or enrofloxacin. If treating coryza, many people would cull the bird, or at least use a sulfa antibiotic including sulfadimethoxine or sulfatrim. Here is an article on MG:
https://extension.umd.edu/sites/extension.umd.edu/files/2022-04/FS-1008 Recognizing and Preventing Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) Infecti....pdf

Thanks for the reply.

I have Oxymav B on the way. Hopefully it is MG, but I’ll watch closely for worsening symptoms in case sulfa AB is needed

 

[Sunny25]

Just adding a couple more photos of the Pekin from this morning in case it helps. Still no nasal discharge and no pus in the eye. The lower eyelid looks slightly worse. This is just after a saline flush so it’s looking watery from that. I have terramycin ointment arriving in the next two days.

The Australorp still has minor nasal discharge and eye/s looking irritated or sore but not swollen. Everyone eating and drinking.

I know this is probably mild as far as chicken illness can go, still losing a lot of sleep lol

 

[Eggcessive]

The foamy eye and swollen lid is pretty common with MG. Let us know how she gets along.

 

[Sunny25]

An update for anyone who stumbles on this thread in the future…

Almost a week in now. The two original sick chickens didn’t get any worse, I think they appear better generally (slow going improvement) although the small lump on inner eye lid as in the photo remains. Can’t say I’ve seen an improvement from the terramycin yet but we persist. The Oxymav arrived yesterday, well into the sickness. I haven’t used it yet as a result.

A third chicken is sneezing a bit this morning now and I noticed a watery poo. That’s 3/4 chickens. May use the oxymav for this one.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would go ahead and use the Oxymav on all 3 so they will get over the outbreak. MG (mycoplasma gallisepticum) which causes these symptoms is a chronic disease that stypays in their bodies for life. There can be future outbreaks in the future for them or the other members of the flock. Do not rehome any of your birds since they would all be carriers. If you can get a stronger antibiotic from your vet for any future outbreaks, Tylosin or Denagard can be very good to treat them.

 

[Sunny25]

I would go ahead and use the Oxymav on all 3 so they will get over the outbreak. MG (mycoplasma gallisepticum) which causes these symptoms is a chronic disease that stypays in their bodies for life. There can be future outbreaks in the future for them or the other members of the flock. Do not rehome any of your birds since they would all be carriers. If you can get a stronger antibiotic from your vet for any future outbreaks, Tylosin or Denagard can be very good to treat them.

Thank you, will do!

 

[Eggcessive]

Let us know how she gets along.

 

[Sunny25]

Chickens all seem healthy now, with the exception of the pekin’s lump on the eyelid which isn’t getting better (in the photo she has eye ointment on). Maybe a stye?

Will make a vet appt but have been preparing for and dealing with a cyclone and the subsequent flooding and rain. They’ve been vacationing in the garage.