My chicken has a swollen eye, head tilt, and can't balance. What's wrong?

It could be a touch of conjunctivitis but usually swollen eyes are the first sign of Mycoplasma infection which also cause respiratory problems. They will always have Mycoplasma and stress will trigger it, but the first instance is usually the worst. Even if you don't have a vet who will see chickens you could ring them to get a dose of antibiotic such as baytril which will help in early stages.

Thanks for reaching out about Muffy and including a photo. Swollen faces can due to sinus infections, several viral diseases such as pox, or contusions. A veterinary visit is highly recommended as this can spread to others. Isolation of all chickens with clinical signs might help limit the spread. Continue to clean the face and eyes, monitor appetite. Control of biting insects such mites, fleas or mosquitos might limit spread also. Good luck.

She is definitely in need of an examination by a veterinarian to assess the situation more carefully. Based on the information you've provided, it sounds like she could have some sort of upper respiratory infection, as these often can cause the eyes to crust up and shut completely. Antibiotics and anti inflammatory medication are usually the best bets for this sort of ailment. However, first things first, you'll need to have someone take a look at her to make sure there isn't a primary ocular issue going on instead. Hope this makes sense.

Wry neck is not contagious. It can be caused by a nutritional deficiency (vitamin E, selenium), toxin ingestion, trauma or it can be an inherited trait in certain breeds. Check your yard for sources of toxins such as rotting food or stagnant water. If you are feeding a balanced and fortified diet, nutritional deficiency can be ruled out. The website www.backyardchickens.com is an excellent resource for information regarding domestic fowl.

It sounds like Bink is extremely ill and needs to be seen by a vet ASAP. It is possible there is a wound that got infected, an underlying illness causing his symptoms, or other underlying problem which needs to be treated. If he is kept with a flock, it is best to remove him from the flock to prevent being picked on and to prevent the spread of any illness to other birds. You can keep him separated and with easy access to food and water, or try syringe feeding, however if he is very weak and not moving much at all, and has visible swelling or wounds, seeking vet care immediately is needed.

This sounds like Petunia may be ill or suffering from a nutrition deficiency if she wasn't fed a balanced diet for chickens or allowed to forage to supplement her feeding. I would seek out veterinary care right away if home treatments have not helped and she is worsening.

Hello. It is very common to see reproductive disease in chickens including salpingitis & egg yolk peritonitis. If you could bring her indoors where it is a bit cooler, feed her nutritious foods such as cornbread, cooked eggs, even a bit ( not much ) of canned cat food & see if she perks up. Many of these birds are actually in quite a bit of pain, so if there is any way to have her seen by a vet, this would be best. X-rays are often taken in these cases to evaluate the internal organs or see if she is actually egg bound. There is a lot we know about chickens, but sometimes not much we can do to save them. Hope you can have her evaluated soon. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.