2 Chicks with a bad eye problem - help!!

[GracieKatt]

I got five chicks from a local farmer. One looked worse and worse for a week and then died for reasons I can’t figure out but nothing appeared to be wrong with either of its eyes. Now two of them have their right eye grossly swollen, one is entirely closed. Can anyone tell me what’s happening here? Disease? Infection? Pecking? They seem to be behaving totally normal and are eating and drinking well. Poop all looks normal. The farmer told me they were 4-5 weeks last week but everyone else has told me they’re definitely much younger so I’m not sure how old to say they are. They’ve been living inside in a brooder box and otherwise they seem pretty happy but this is kinda horrifying. It can’t have been going on for more than a few days.

 

[coach723]

This may be a respiratory virus, like Mycoplasma gallisepticum. The picture on the right looks like bubbles in the eye, which is why I think that a possibility. The symptoms are treatable, but if that's what it is, then the birds are carriers for life. If you can, contact the farmer and ask if they've ever confirmed it in their flock, or have a history of respiratory illness in their birds.
More information here:
https://www.freedomrangerhatchery.com/blog/protecting-your-flock-what-you-need-to-know-about-mg-ms/

 

[Eggcessive]

It looks like pecking on the chicken on the right, hard to know with the first chick. It looks angry and there is probably some infection. But some respiratory diseases also can cause that. I would flush the eye with normal saline eye wash 2-4 times daily, and apply an antibiotic eyedrop or ointment. Many feed stores sell Terramycin eye ointment, and plain Neosporin ointment can be used in a pinch. Your vet could also prescribe an eye drop such as oflaxacin, Neosporin, erythromycin, or ciprofloxacin.

 

[GracieKatt]

This may be a respiratory virus, like Mycoplasma gallisepticum. The picture on the right looks like bubbles in the eye, which is why I think that a possibility. The symptoms are treatable, but if that's what it is, then the birds are carriers for life. If you can, contact the farmer and ask if they've ever confirmed it in their flock, or have a history of respiratory illness in their birds.
More information here:
https://www.freedomrangerhatchery.com/blog/protecting-your-flock-what-you-need-to-know-about-mg-ms/

At this point I don’t really trust that farmer to tell me the truth due to some stuff that’s already happened and her telling me it was impacted crop when it wasn’t and telling me it was my fault because I didn’t buy the feed she told me to buy when she definitely never told me to buy any certain feed, etc. on top of it I just noticed that the white one is slowly opening and closing its beak just like the one that died started to do before it died. I’m freaking out!!

 

[Buckingham Palace]

Could it be fowl poxs?

 

[GracieKatt]

Could it be fowl poxs?

I don’t know, I am desperately trying to find a vet in my area who sees chickens. How can it be this hard?! I live in a rural farming area!

 

[coach723]

It doesn't look like pox. It won't hurt anything to flush the eyes and use the ointment in them. Terramycin eye ointment is available at many tractor supply stores. If you can't find that then use the plain neosporin. Finding a vet that will see a chicken can be a challenge. Even harder to find one that really has any experience or knowledge. I wish you luck, sincerely.

 

[GracieKatt]

Yes, I don't understand how it can be so hard since I live out in the country, with farms all around. I guess Chicken Lives just don't matter to most folks because they're inexpensive and small. The lady just keeps telling me to bring them back and get my money back... no thanks, lady, $32 is not that much of an issue for me, I'd rather do everything I can to save them, thanks, grrrr. What kind of message would I be sending to my son if instead of trying to save them, I just returned them for a refund knowing they'll just die?

I called around to several vets and got one who would let me describe the problem and he told me I should try giving this LS-50 powder in their water so I'm doing that and I've got the terramycin on their eyes since yesterday. The eye that was crusted shut is open now, but both chickens' right eyes still look horrible and gross. It can't be comfortable for the poor babies. They're not exactly on death's door yet since one of them just flew two feet into the air to perch on the edge of the bin so here's hoping......

It doesn't look like pox. It won't hurt anything to flush the eyes and use the ointment in them. Terramycin eye ointment is available at many tractor supply stores. If you can't find that then use the plain neosporin. Finding a vet that will see a chicken can be a challenge. Even harder to find one that really has any experience or knowledge. I wish you luck, sincerely.

 

[coach723]

In some areas vets are not wanting to see birds due to the bird flu that is going around.
But many just don't treat birds. It's becoming a bigger problem now that keeping chickens in back yard flocks has become so much more popular. Finding a good avian vet is hard, there just aren't enough of them. I'm glad you were able to get some meds, I hope that helps.

 

[GracieKatt]

In some areas vets are not wanting to see birds due to the bird flu that is going around.
But many just don't treat birds. It's becoming a bigger problem now that keeping chickens in back yard flocks has become so much more popular. Finding a good avian vet is hard, there just aren't enough of them. I'm glad you were able to get some meds, I hope that helps.

I do too… so far I have discovered that Eudine can fly two feet into the air, so hopefully this is a sign that she is not exactly at death’s door!