Eye lid closed, moaning/wheezing, lying alone

[HalfDot]

Sick chicken. About 2 days ago we noticed that our 3 month old Rhode Island Red hen was keeping her left eye lid closed for extended periods of time. We also noticed that the eye was cloudy, similar to a cataract in humans. This afternoon she started making a sound that seems to be a "moan", as if in pain. Her breathing is very deep and it sounds like she may be wheezing. Since 2 pm she has been in the pen by herself, lying down.

Prior to this she was the dominant hen, always free ranging, running, playing, etc.

Any help/suggestions is greatly appreciated.

Regina

 

[cookinmom]

I sure don't know what to tell ya, but I hope she recovers!

 

[SpottedCrow]

I'm wondering if it couldn't be Marek's...One of the symptoms is a cloudy eye, like a cataract. This is link about Marek's.
http://www.shagbarkbantams.com/page9.htm
Was she vaccinated as a chick?
Have you brought any new birds in?
I hope I'm wrong...

 

[eggchel]

Here is a good site to read about different poultry illnesses.

http://www.msstate.edu/dept/poultry/dissymp.htm
Newcastle disease also causes clouded cornea, but it is much less likely than some of the common diseases such as Mareks and Mycoplasmas.

I would isolate her if possible to reduce the likelihood of spreading a disease to the others if they havent already been exposed.


Chel

 

[JackieK318]

Clean, clean, clean where she was and the spaces she shared with the others the past few weeks! Marek's is spread by dander and feather follicles. DuPont makes a cleaner that kills Marek's, but I think a good scrub would take care of it for now unless you're pretty sure it's Marek's. Also, don't give up on her yet - she may, with care, come back from Marek's - depends on the strain.

 

[dlhunicorn]

please have a look through the following article on Eye Disorders Of Poultry
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/PS031