Broody silkie with a runny eye.

I have a 12 month old broody silkie with one runny eye. I just took her to the vet for a wellness check a few weeks ago, because last time she was broody she got lice. I wanted to make sure she was clear of the lice, and the vet said she looked really healthy overall.

So I was shocked to see one of her eyes was runny today. She still comes out to eat and drink, and her crop feels good.. A little soft, but there's food in there. No sneezing, and only one eye is watering. I did see that she has been growing more feathers lately, and especially around her face, she does have some feathers that could be even touching her eye. I can't trim them right now, because I need help holding her, and my husband is at work.

If it is an illness wouldn't her nose be runny too? Is it possible it's just her feathers irritating her eye? I'm going to check on her again throughout the day and see what else I can see.

Any thoughts are greatly appreciated!!

I guess it could possibly be a number of things. I would certainly isolate her ASAP. It could just be an eye problem, or a respiratory infection, or, maybe feather irritation. You could start off by bathing the eye (and trimming the feathers when hubby returns) and see how she goes.

If it does continue, then you may wish to consider using eye drops such as Neosporin (but bathe the eye before dosing) and see if that does the trick.

If symptoms persist after a week or so of using the eye drops, then it may turn out to be a respiratory infection, but I'd do the above first before considering this - just keep her isolated.

Good luck
CT

Thanks so much for the advice. My husband reminded me that when chickens have plugged nostrils, they start "breathing" through their eye(s). Sure enough, I looked this morning, and she has a nostril jammed full of sand. Same side as the eye in question.

Since there is no sneezing, and she is acting normal, I think this is what is causing it, but.. I still need advice...

Here's my plan:

I'm going to use a warm damp q-tip, and attempt to wipe the nostril clean. I am hesitant to insert anything IN to the nostril because I don't want to push the blockage further in. Then I will apply some VetRx to the area.

Sound ok? Or would you do something else? I truly think this is it, this chicken has some odd habits, one of which is to stick her beak in the sand after she drinks. She's a gem. Lol

We've had her since may, and she has been broody 3 times, went through an issue with lice, then leg mites... Now this! She is our problem child. But she's a sweetheart. You can easily hold her and hand feed her.

Anyways, thanks again. Hope to fix her up ASAP.

Thanks so much for the advice. My husband reminded me that when chickens have plugged nostrils, they start "breathing" through their eye(s). Sure enough, I looked this morning, and she has a nostril jammed full of sand. Same side as the eye in question.

Since there is no sneezing, and she is acting normal, I think this is what is causing it, but.. I still need advice...

Here's my plan:

I'm going to use a warm damp q-tip, and attempt to wipe the nostril clean. I am hesitant to insert anything IN to the nostril because I don't want to push the blockage further in. Then I will apply some VetRx to the area.

Sound ok? Or would you do something else? I truly think this is it, this chicken has some odd habits, one of which is to stick her beak in the sand after she drinks. She's a gem. Lol

We've had her since may, and she has been broody 3 times, went through an issue with lice, then leg mites... Now this! She is our problem child. But she's a sweetheart. You can easily hold her and hand feed her.

Anyways, thanks again. Hope to fix her up ASAP.

A Qtip soaked in peroxide and a tooth pick would get the nostril cleaned. Here is a good link about that: http://www.usaha.org/Portals/6/StateAnimalHealthOfficials.pdf