Bird flu?? Help required

[Anonymous]

A friend called yesterday to say that one of her bantams has got goo coming out of it's eyes. There was no rattling etc to indicate respiratory issues and she had bathed the eyes with warm water, but the hen was getting pecked by some of the other birds and didn't appear to be able to see. She seperated the bantam and it's mate from the rest of the flock yesterday, but this morning the one with goo in her eyes is sneezing and the other is showing signs aswell.
I'm going to pop round this evening on the way home for a look and will let you know what I find.
Your thoughts, ladies and gents would be greatfully recieved.
Cheers,
matt

 

[Lucylou]

In my very limited experience (although I have had my fair share of sick chicks!) its sounds like an infection which needs anti-biotics.
I had one of mine sneezing, not the gooey eyes but runny nose, & it was an infection. The treatment was anti-bio's, keeping her quiet & making sure she got food in an easy to eat form, like reddy-brek, for a day or so & lots of TLC. It was touch & go but she did recover, took about 4 days of treatment.
Apparently they go down very quickly unless they make their mind up to fight it!!
I've recently had one with a virus but symptoms were different so it doesn't sound like this.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks, you confirmed what I surmised, but I wanted to make sure from more experienced folk. unfortunately the lady didn't want to go down the vet and medication route, so when the symptoms got worse, she asked me to dispatch it. Poor little bugger was very sickly, indeed.
Interestingly though, the other hen that showed mild symptoms seems to have recovered and none of the others have been effected.
Thanks again