Chicken Allergy?

[chrismahon]

Our pet (animal domestique over here) cockerel Bottom, a 6 year old Buff Orpington, has been ill almost constantly for the last 9 months. He started with an ILT flareup caused by the stress of the move. Then respiratory problems due to damp. Then Carbon monoxide poisoning. Then a massive rapid moult and ILT again. Then SAD, due to lack of sunlight in the house, which was sorted by giving him a minimum of 2 hours outside. Now he seems to have an allergy, which we initially thought was plant poisoning. The area he loves to wander about in is a small grassy hill area (rare here) surrounded by trees. But in the last two weeks his eyes have swollen and closed to the extent that he can't see to eat, although he seems to be able to see through his shut eyelids and can walk about. We kept him in and the swelling went down after a few days and he started eating again. Took him down yesterday evening and we could see his eyelids swelling and closing by the minute. This morning he is again 'blind'.

I think he is allergic to tree pollen, although none of the other birds are affected. We have a species called Hornbeam here which comprises the majority of the woodland and that may be the problem. Or it may be some of the bushes in that particular area. Has anyone else experienced a chicken with an allergy?

 

[foxy]

I haven't heard of a chicken allergy, certainly some birds are more sensitive than others to dust,dander etc..and that would be in part due to damage to the lining of trachea and bronchial tracts of poultry.

In the case of Bottom, no doubt he has damage there due to ILT but it does seem that you are describing an inflammatory response which is interesting, especially as this reaction subsided after a couple of days so fairly typical of an allergic reaction. It could be in part to his immune system not dealing properly with the allergens from pollen. Maybe a dose of cod liver oil to boost Vit A might help and really just avoiding that particular area for a while to see whether the problem persists at all?

 

[chrismahon]

Thanks Foxy. Will try the Cod Liver Oil to see if it helps him. He's addicted to apples at the moment -likes strawberries as well!

 

[chrismahon]

Well he had cod liver oil but the swelling persisted in one eye so we changed the area we went in and the swelling subsided. So it was some plant in that area I think -there are some 'broom' type bushes in that area only. The one eye continued to weep though, even with no swelling. It was bathed every day to open it and today, after being away in Gascony for three days, we had a good go at removing all the 'sleep' in the corner of his eye using a cotton bud and water. After a few minutes soak and a few wipes I noticed a single strand of extremely fine feather sticking out of his eye. Removed the strand and a few hours on he is now absolutely fine. He's not going back into that original area though.

 

[Margaid]

I once had a problem with one eye - excruciating pain, it wouldn't stop watering and the conjunctiva was red. I suffer from hay fever and it affects my eyes badly but this was different. After about 36 hours of pain I had a careful look in the mirror wearing a magnifier on a head band and found an eyelash stuck in the tear duct. Once removed the relief was instant - so I can sympathise with the poor lad

 

[BabyBantam]

God, I feel unworthy in the presence of such patient and persistent chicken care bottom is a very lucky boy