5 Week Old Chicken holding one eye closed

[StephanieC]

My EE, 5 weeks old, is suddenly holding her left eye closed and acting somewhat lethargic. Any thoughts?

 

[cafarmgirl]

Is she eating/drinking? The first thing I'd want to rule out is coccidiosis. When they are getting sick with it they'll start standing around, puffed up, eyes closed and eventually not wanting to eat or drink. It kills fast so it's always the first thing I treat for so I can at least rule it out.

If she's persistently holding only the left eye closed then she may have something else going on or may have been pecked in the eye, hard to know at this point. Chickens who aren't feeling well will often keep one eye open until they are feeling really crummy, then they just don't care and sit with eyes closed.

But I would at least start with a course of Corid since she's they are at high risk at this age.

 

[StephanieC]

Thanks. She is drinking and eating, and isn't puffed up, and it is just the one eye.