Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: SarahJC on September 10, 2009, 15:23

Title: Bubbles coming from eyes
Post by: SarahJC on September 10, 2009, 15:23
I've just noticed that our 16 week old hen has bubbles coming from both eyes. Never noticed it this morning. We've only had her two weeks next Sunday. She seems fine other than eye discharge. It's not a coloured discharge, totally clear. Could she have got water up her nose and it's coming through her eyes? We got her and two other hens to add to our five, the five we've had a year next month.

Totally off topic but I've ordered some Flubenvet. £15.00 (60g) from Hadrian Equine, free p&p. I used to use Verm-X, but as nearly everyone here seems to use Flubenvet and thinks it's the best, thought I'd get some.

Any help with Tippi our new hen is greatly appreciated.
Title: Re: Bubbles coming from eyes
Post by: Sue33 on September 10, 2009, 15:34


I would suggest you contact the people you bought your chook from and ask for their advice, this can be a bad sign for something quite serious and you don't want to infect your whole flock.
Title: Re: Bubbles coming from eyes
Post by: SarahJC on September 10, 2009, 15:39
Thanks Sue33. I'll get in touch with her and keep an eye on Tippi. I'll pop out now and see how she is.
Title: Re: Bubbles coming from eyes
Post by: Sue33 on September 10, 2009, 15:41

might be an idea to separate her from the rest if possible, just to be on the safe side.  Is she OK apart from the bubbley eyes?
Title: Re: Bubbles coming from eyes
Post by: Aunt Sally on September 10, 2009, 15:47
Bubbly eyes is a major indication of a mycoplasma respiratory infection.  She should be eseparated from the others as it is vey infectious.  She will also need antibiotics from the vet. 

If you have only just got her then you should definitly contact the supplier for an exchange / refund or recompense for the vet's bill.
Title: Re: Bubbles coming from eyes
Post by: chickenlady on September 10, 2009, 15:54
chicken Coryza also has foamy eyes but again this will need antibiotics

Debbie
Title: Re: Bubbles coming from eyes
Post by: Aunt Sally on September 10, 2009, 15:55
That's right Debbie, so it does  :(
Title: Re: Bubbles coming from eyes
Post by: Foxy on September 10, 2009, 16:02
chicken Coryza also has foamy eyes but again this will need antibiotics

Debbie

coryza is a bit different producing thicker, sticky discharge accompanied with swelling under the eye. Myco discharge is clear, bubbly and often referred to as "frothy"  :)
Title: Re: Bubbles coming from eyes
Post by: joyfull on September 10, 2009, 16:08
chicken Coryza also has foamy eyes but again this will need antibiotics

Debbie

coryza is a bit different producing thicker, sticky discharge accompanied with swelling under the eye. Myco discharge is clear, bubbly and often referred to as "frothy"  :)

Yep frothy thats like what mine had when it had myco.  :(
Title: Re: Bubbles coming from eyes
Post by: SarahJC on September 10, 2009, 16:12
Thanks everyone. Just when she was getting braver with my other hens  :( She's still getting picked on and makes one heck of a racket even if she just bumps into one of the others, bless her. I'm heading off to check on her. She's fine apart from the bubbly eyes  :(
Title: Re: Bubbles coming from eyes
Post by: SarahJC on September 10, 2009, 16:37
I've just been to check on her and the bubbles have totally gone  ???

It's as if they were never there. I know when I used to bath one of my guinea pigs and he'd get a bit of water up his nose his eyes would bubble a bit.

I'm confused now.
Title: Re: Bubbles coming from eyes
Post by: matilda duck on September 10, 2009, 16:48
wHen you have a cold do your eyes water?  Not all the while though is it?  Same here, just because they are not bubbling now, doesn't mean the condition has cleared !  She needs antibiotics to treat this otherwise all your girls will get infected :(
Title: Re: Bubbles coming from eyes
Post by: matilda duck on September 10, 2009, 16:53
Didn't mean to sound nasty there!  I just re read it sorry :(
Title: Re: Bubbles coming from eyes
Post by: chickenlady on September 10, 2009, 20:19
I found this on this web site! http://www.barnyardhealth.com/resinindompo.html

which says:
chicken and turkey coryza bacterial infections produce foamy, watery eyes, discharge from the nostrils, and sometimes swollen sinuses. Unlike fowl cholera, deaths rarely occur. Affected chicks and poults do not grow well, and the flock appears uneven in size.


Mycoplasma bacteria produce respiratory illnesses indistinguishable in most cases from chicken or turkey coryza.
Uncomplicated mycoplasmosis rarely kills affected birds, but serious secondary bacterial infections are common. These may result in death loss and, in the case of meat producing birds, condemnation of the carcass.

the treatment for both are antibiotics
I use aureomycin (another brand name of tylan) as there is no egg withdrawel, baytril is excellent but cant eat any eggs while treating or for 7 days after!

Debbie
Title: Re: Bubbles coming from eyes
Post by: SarahJC on September 10, 2009, 20:54
Thanks for that Debbie. Bless your heart.

She's not laying yet as she's only 17/18 weeks, so no problem with egg withdrawal. Stupid question, but how is the antibiotic given? I'm only used to my other animals having it by injection.
Title: Re: Bubbles coming from eyes
Post by: iwantanallotment on September 10, 2009, 21:03
An easy way is to pop it on some food for her, Sarah. Mine had it on sweetcorn and gobbled up every bit  ;) Make sure the others can't pinch it, though!
Title: Re: Bubbles coming from eyes
Post by: Foxy on September 10, 2009, 21:05
If you have only had her 2 weeks, it could be that she already had the myco infection previously and the stress of the move, has re-activated the disease.
Tylan would be a good antibiotic or Baytril.  Baytril can be administered by syringe directly down the beak, or pop the medication on a peice of bread. :) Tylan by inj. or in the water. Unless you see a poultry friendly vet you are likely to be prescribed Baytril, which is fine and will do the job. For the time being, try and reduce stress to a minimum and add apple cider vinegar to the water to support the digestive system. Check for mites, and keep on top of husbandry -by this making sure feed is fresh and coop is clean and dry.  :) You will be fine!
Title: Re: Bubbles coming from eyes
Post by: matilda duck on September 10, 2009, 21:06
Give it her through a syringe.  Stroke the back of her throat she opens her beak and down it goes!  Easy!    :unsure:
Title: Re: Bubbles coming from eyes
Post by: matilda duck on September 10, 2009, 21:07
Sorry Foxy,  You got there first :wub:
Title: Re: Bubbles coming from eyes
Post by: GrannieAnnie on September 10, 2009, 23:01
If you get aureomycin, you mix it in with their water, but it needs to be fresh each day.
Title: Re: Bubbles coming from eyes
Post by: chickenlady on September 11, 2009, 00:17
Give it her through a syringe.  Stroke the back of her throat she opens her beak and down it goes!  Easy!    :unsure:
Didnt try it that way!  ::) i wrapped each girl up in a towel and pushed the syringe into the side of the beak till they opened it! then squirted it in quick! although quite often it went all over me! aureomycin much easier pop 3 teaspoons in 5 litres of water and as grannie says change this every day (every 12 hours if in a hard water area)

Hope she is ok!  :unsure: let us know how it goes!

Debbie
Title: Re: Bubbles coming from eyes
Post by: SarahJC on September 11, 2009, 00:27
I'm guessing I can only get the antibiotics through a vet? Prescription is needed online it seems. How have you all found vets are with chickens? I've been keeping an eye on all of them. I was squatting down staring at Tippi while she was roosting tonight, with her staring back at me like I had suddenly gone mad.


Title: Re: Bubbles coming from eyes
Post by: iwantanallotment on September 11, 2009, 01:37
You'll need a vet Sarah yes, so may as well visit one and get the meds quicker than going by post. Might be a bit dearer with consultation fee etc, but time is of the essence anyway.

Whichever med you are prescribed determines how it can be administered, so please let us know when you have your meds for further advice?

Ie, Baytril is via injection or mouth. Tylan is by injection or in water.

My personal preference is Baytril on food, as I know they each get the full dose that way. Squirting into beak just had one squirting it straight back out through her nose  >:(

But each to his own and what suits & bird's temperament. Please try and see a vet today, or you have the weekend to get through....and no-one wants a sick pet on a weekend.

I recently lost some which had symptoms very similar to yours, so did Grumpydad and others, it's rife at the moment. Please don't be complacent, they go downhill sooooo quickly  :(   All the best x

* to add - most vets don't know a lot about poultry, it's a sad fact. I've a feeling they may in future, now poultry are so popular. But for your current situation you may need to give your vet some clues. For starters, "Mycoplasma and antibiotics please, preferrably Tylan or Baytril"  :D That's what I did, anyway! Unless you have access to an agricultural vet?
Soz for long post....I always think of more to say after I've said what I was gonna say  :blush: Hope it helps, though.
Title: Re: Bubbles coming from eyes
Post by: joyfull on September 11, 2009, 07:33
As more and more people are keeping chickens in their gardens more vets will treat them. my Aureomycin cost me £18.45 for a tub which will last me ages (only have 14 birds). If you armed with as much information as you can (printed out) then if your vet isn't sure they can cross reference everything. I am lucky my vets isn't expensive (consultation, Aureomycin, metacam and injection cost me £32 pounds last year and an autopsy this year only £23 which I think is good value). Have you had a look in the poultry information section to see if a vet near you has been recommended by anyone on here?
Joy-xx