My vet said eye/nose for chicken vaccine. Can I give it by mouth?

The fowl pox vaccination should only be administered to healthy birds to prevent the transmission of the disease. It will not cure them if they already have fowl pox. It is also worth Keeping in mind that without proper handling and administration, the vaccine will be ineffective. If you have concerns about your birds having Fowl Pox you should take them to a veterinarian right away.

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.

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.

Without knowing more about the signs that your birds are showing, it is difficult to say what is going on with them. There is a lot of overlap with infectious diseases in chickens, so many of them can look alike. The treatments for them, however, can vary, and need to be initiated by a veterinarian. I would recommend that you contact a veterinarian in your area so that s/he can do a physical exam on at least one of your birds. I was unable to find where you were located based on your zip code, as it did not give any results for the US. There are some regions which have avian diagnostic labs, and many times they have a chicken veterinarian on staff. This may be an option for you depending on your location. At home, you can try supportive care for the birds. Ensuring they have a warm place to go is crucial, so they don’t have to work as hard to keep warm (chicken body temperatures are about 102-104 F). Also make sure they have fresh water and food easily available to them, and monitor to ensure they are eating. To do this, you can feel along the bottom of their necks - this is where the crop is, and it is a pocket in their esophagus where good is stored when they eat. If you feel good in it, that is good as it indicates they are eating. If it is empty, they are not. Please do not give any human medications to your birds, as many of them can be harmful to chickens. I hope that gives you a place to start, and good luck.

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.

Hello. Chickens can get upper respiratory infections. Like us, most of these are viruses, so no great treatments. There is no reason to start any antibiotics. Make sure your hens are as stress free as possible, has access to plenty of fresh water, good feed, special treats & if you need to isolate some, do so. If you plan on adding anymore birds, make sure they have been vaccinated for Marek's. This will only add a few dollars to the cost of each chick. Thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello. Your vaccine vial or package should indicate the route of administration. If not, call the retailer that sold you the vaccine & ask what the manufacturer recommends. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.