Chicken bald back

[chickchock]

Hi all

 

We got our first 3 chickens 3 weeks ago. One of them, a Bluebell, was sneezing a fair bit but I read up and assumed it was just because of the move. 3 weeks on and she has continued to sneeze, today I have just noticed one of her eyes is bubbly. Have scared myself silly googling so I thought I would ask here for some calm advice from more experienced chicken keepers.

 

We don't have anywhere to put her to isolate her from the other girls, and she is extremely nervous and won't yet be picked up, she runs a mile if you get too close. The other two chickens seem fine and tbh even Fluffy (the sneezy Bluebell) does not actually seem ill, she shoves the other two out of the way to get at the food every day!

 

I have emailed the breeder we bought them from because I feel that she must actually have been ill when we got her, or am I jumping to conclusions?

 

I gave them all Apple Cider Vinegar for a week when they arrived.

 

Anyway my question is, what shall I do? Does she need antibiotics and if so will the vet prescribe them without seeing he because I cannot think for the life of me how on earth we will get her into a carrier to take her to the vet!

 

Thanks in advance

[Daphne]

Its sounds as though she has mycoplasma - the bubbly eye gives it away. Its a common disease, usually brought on by a stressor, moving house is a typical one, so its not particularly strongly likely she was ill at the breeders, although she may have been, we'll probably never know.

 

She needs to be given medication from the vet. Ideally this should be tylan, but some vets prescribe baytril. She will have to be seen to be prescribed, and really she needs to be isolated, although some vets prescribe tylan to be put in the water which can then be shared amongst all the birds.

 

If you really can't get near her to pick her up, then make an appointment for tomorrow as early as possible, and do it at dusk, when chickens are sleepy. Take her out of the house and put her in a large cardboard box (with sufficient airholes in) or cat carrier and put her somewhere cool, safe and dark for the night.

[chickchock]

Hi, and thank you for your reply. The breeder said something slightly different so I really don't know what to think! She said that usually she would assume disease but as she isn't at all ill, and had no symptoms while she still had her, plus the others are fine, she thinks it's more likely a reaction to her straw bedding. She advised changing the bedding to a non-straw one. Am completely confused now.

[Daphne]

I am not aware that bedding problems would cause bubbly eyes, and in any case being allergic to straw is not common in chooks, so it wouldn't be my first diagnosis. However, you could try changing the bedding to something like aubiose and see what happens, as you never know , although my gut reaction is still that its myco.

[mullethunter]

I've never seen it myself but from what I've read the bubbly Rye is a classic symptom of what Daphne suggests. If it was me I'd see if that's still there tomorrow, and if it is, take her to the vet. The whole flock will have been exposed by now do I wouldn't have thought there'd be any benefit from isolating her now. Good luck.

[chickchock]

Thanks guys. I've removed the straw and will move the eglu to a new spot tomorrow, plus give it a good scrub. How long should I give it do you think? I don't want something hideous to happen because I didn't act soon enough.

[Daphne]

Bit of a stab in the dark, but maybe 5 days, tops. I say this because I suppose it will take this long for the change of bedding to take effect, and for the symptoms to disappear, but this is guesswork. Myco isn't usually super strong in that it kills in a short space of time, its more of a weakener. Its an upper respiratory tract problem, so a bit like a cold (common) or flu in extreme form, in humans in terms of severity. As she doesn't appear to be mega-ill now - I am assuming you can't hear rattly breathing - then if she does have myco then she will be fighting a slightly uphill battle if she does have to go onto antibiotics after 5 days delay, but still one she can win.

[chickchock]

Thank you! No there is no rattly breathing. The bubbly eye has only just started today and I do know this as I've been watching her quite closely. Thanks for your advice.

[chickchock]

A little update - we've decide to get her seen by a vet today. We're away this weekend and I was worried about her becoming ill while we weren't there (someone will be feeding them and letting them in and out but that's all).

 

As Fluffy is our 7 year old daughter's chicken I feel we need to make sure as she would be devastated if anything happened.

 

Thanks again for all your advice. Talk about in at the deep end with chicken keeping! Well at least we are getting experience straight away!

[Daphne]

Good, I am glad you are going to the vet, it's what I would have done Its quite common for chooks to get problems when they move, they don't cope with change at all well And at least this way you are getting to grips with the full range of experiences, good and less good, it will make you into a better keeper, quicker

 

Fingers crossed for Fluffy, and have a lovely weekend

[chickchock]

The vet says he thinks it probably is mycoplasma and has prescribed ronaxan. We had a complete farce trying to catch her to take her to the vet, seriously all we needed was the Benny Hill theme music to complete it!

 

Anyway thankfully he said that if the others develop symptoms he will do a prescription for them without us taking them in.

 

Fingers crossed she will be on the mend soon. Thanks again, I am really glad I asked about it here.

[Daphne]