8 week old ee pullet lethargic with one eye closed

[Hazelnut]

My 8 week old easter egger pullet has been acting a bit quieter than usual. Yesterday I noticed that for a couple of hours she had one eye closed. No swelling or discharge, just closed. Then later, she seemed fine. Then just this evening I noticed she was keeping it closed again. She was also just acting a bit droopier and slower than usual. I held her and she didn't want me to put her down. She also felt lighter than usual. I gave her some yogurt and hand fed her some crumbles and she seemed to perk up a bit. She and the other chicks all recently spent their first nights outside in their coop.
I have found many threads describing this condition, but no follow ups. Does anyone know how I should treat her? Does anyone have any idea what could be wrong with her? Something respiratory? I have been using aspen and pine shavings in the coop. She is my 5 year old daughter's chick. I can't imagine losing her!

 

[Judy]

It could be just a minor eye injury. I would try some antibiotic ophthalmic eye ointment from the feed store first, for a few days.

 

[sbs]

My BO had the same problem about a month ago. Glenda Heywood was an amazing help , she told me my girl had a vitamin deficiency and prescribed a vitamin E and B complex mash that cured her . Try sending her a message,she is an amazing wealth of information.

 

[Hazelnut]

Thank you both for you help! Sbs, I am pretty sure I came across the post that you are referring to. I copied Glenda Heywood's instructions about the vitamin probiotic mash. I also have the Bragg's ACV in my fridge. I will try her regimen. I hope that it helps. I will pick up some of the antibiotic eye ointment tomorrow, too. I am so worried about her. I hope she is feeling better in the morning.

I am feeding them Dumore chick starter. Is that a good brand? Should I be feeding her a better brand? I was just wondering if there is a chance it's a vitamin deficiency, then maybe I should switch feeds?

 

[Judy]

There was a thread on here recently along the lines of, no more TSC feeds for me, and as far as I know, TSC = Dumor feeds.

Here it is:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=202961

I use TSC for some items I can't get elsewhere but buy feed from a local feed store.

 

[Hazelnut]

I will have to check the other feed stores in my area and see what they have. I'm definitely switching. Unfortunately they don't sell Blue Seal feeds around here. When I asked one time they said "Blue what?". Somehow I had a bad feeling about the Dumore feed when I bought it. They had no other feed to choose from. Now I realize it's their own brand, geez. After reading that, I am switching to something else. You put so much trust in the feed since it is their only source of nutrition, it always made me worried that it wasn't good enough. ( when you consider all the different qualities of dog and cat foods available, I was hoping for more of a selection) I really had no idea since I am totally new at keeping chickens. Thanks for the info!

 

[Hazelnut]

She seems better this morning, her eye seems fine and she's not droopy. I gave her a hard boiled egg with some chick feed sprinkled on top. She started pecking daintily at first while the others were eating more excitedly, but after a bit she perked up and ate a lot and became stronger and more active. Hopefully she'll keep feeling better. I will watch her closely. I am still going to try the probiotic vitamin mash. I have been trying to see her poop, but all the poops seem normal. I will check her for mites or lice too. I haven't really done that yet.