[peewee_lane]

Guys I am so so worried!

One of my best layers did not come out for food the last two days.

One eye is completely gunked up, it was foaming bubbles the first day and now today it is closed up. Its like she got a peck on the eye or a bite, its swollen and inflamed.

Secondly, a little off balance, not walking.

Alsp, green bile pooh.

I seperated her yesterday, shes still doing no better. I have her some scrambled egg and honey, at least she ate.

No vets near me that take chickens!

I bought two hens in August who were supposedly 9 months old, neither laid and both were sneezing when I got them. Now two others are sneezing, they say some birds are carrier of the above condition and I dont know whether to cull or what.

Thanks for your help....

[richyrich7]

Hi Pewee, I'm no expert with poultry, but if it was mine I'd cull to be honest.

You may want to wait until some of the more experienced keepers come along.

[peewee_lane]

Thanks Richy, Im waiting alright, hoping someone can help. She was so full of life two days ago and now is in bits!

[Aunt Sally]

Sounds like mycoplasma to me.  It could be something else respiratory but you'd need a vet to confirm a diagnoses.  They do need antibiotic treatment though ! or as Rich said and a very thoough cleaning of their accompdation and run area !

[peewee_lane]

I dont understand Aubt Sally, I cant clean the run, its all just muck and i clean out their nest box every week and replace the bedding. They're very well looked after, Im shocked shes ill...

[Aunt Sally]

It's the disease brought in by the sneezing birds.  

I was wrong in my advice that thourough cleaning would be necessary. I've just checked up and if it's mycoplasma it will only remain in the environment for a short while.  (I'd got it the wrong way round  :roll: )  They do need medical treatment in my opinion though !

[Bodger]

Its nothing to do with what you've done, or the way you treat your birds.

[peewee_lane]

Thanks Aunt Sally,, keep ringing vets. In ireland, you need to do really well to get the points to got and study vetinary medicine, why then do they only know how to treat dogs and cats and the likes? Some vets wont treat a chicken? Its still an animal!

[Aunt Sally]

Tell him it's just like a BIG budgie  

As Bodger said, it's nothing you've done, the new birds were sick when you go them.

If you find a vet one of these is probably what you need:

Tilmicosin, tylosin, spiramycin, tetracyclines, fluoroquinolones.

Tylosin seems the most popular choice.

[babe]

could it be coryza

[Foxy]

agree with Babe sounds like infectious coryza - but whether it is coryza or mycplasma Baytril or Tylan  will help and all your birds will need to be treated.
Good luck!

[Aunt Sally]

It could even be both conditions.  Mycoplasma puts the hens at great risk of secondary infections.

[babe]

it was the smelly bile, swollen eyes and off balance that i thought may point to coryza.

[Aunt Sally]

You're probably quite right Babe !

[babe]

im learning aunty