Are bulging eyes in a chick a sign of a problem?

[ChicoryBlue]

This 21-days old Buckeye chick on the left, her eyes really stick out and I've noticed it the last few days.

I think she was always a bit bug-eyed, but not sure. It seems the glassy corneas are bulging. Her sinuses and eye skin don't look swollen to me, are they? What do you all think? Shall I try to take her to a vet? More pictures, and situational information follow.

A few pics show how the eyes catch the sunlight and refract it.

Here she took a drink and half-closed her eyes as she swallowed. As I've been watching her she appears active and alert, not lethargic.

Besides this, there's been another thing going on: one chick was snorting for a few days every now and then, and then a second chick began doing it, and it became more often, and somebody, maybe the same chick(s) are /was pooping cecal-like goopy poops and I put these together as something going on. I started a treatment of Tiamulin 12.5%, 1ml in a quart of water, including 2 tablespoons of sugar and 2 tablespoons of boiled cider, this morning.

I suspect some kind of chronic respiratory disease with my four older hens, possibly mycoplasma, though two tests last year came up negative. My five-year old Buckeye hen Hazel's eyes get bubbly when she's stressed, and the two-year old Buff Orps Anna and Tedi sometimes get a clear nasal discharge but no other obvious symptoms. A third Buff Orp shows no symptoms.

So I've tried to do chick stuff with the indoor brooder before going out to the older hens pen, and change clothes and shower before again being with the chicks inside. Either this is an unrelated illness or my precautions haven't been enough.

Thank you for any advice you have to offer!

 

[CascadiaRiver]

I don't have any advice other than it does not appear typical. That's so strange! Have you tried calling the vet for advice yet?

 

[ChicoryBlue]

I don't have any advice other than it does not appear typical. That's so strange! Have you tried calling the vet for advice yet?

Not yet. I really zeroed in on this chick's odd eyes today, maybe they're getting bigger?

 

[ThePoultryDoc]

This appears to be a conformational abnormality—just a unique trait of this chick. There isn’t much room in the skull, and chickens have relatively large eyes for the size of their head. If the issue was due to an infection, you’d typically see neurologic signs like torticollis (head tilt), incoordination, or other deficits.


As for the respiratory signs you mentioned, the age aligns with an infectious bronchitis (IBV) challenge. Antibiotics won’t treat the virus itself, but they can help reduce the risk of secondary bacterial infections. The tiamulin would be effective against Mycoplasma, which can commonly occur alongside or after IBV.

 

[AinaWGSD]

That is  not normal! I'd suspect increased ocular pressure although that's usually painful so I'd also expect she would be acting off compared to your other chicks if that were the case. Whether it's increased pressure, a congenital defect, or something else entirely I'm not sure how it would be treated.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

This appears to be a conformational abnormality—just a unique trait of this chick. There isn’t much room in the skull, and chickens have relatively large eyes for the size of their head. If the issue was due to an infection, you’d typically see neurologic signs like torticollis (head tilt), incoordination, or other deficits.


As for the respiratory signs you mentioned, the age aligns with an infectious bronchitis (IBV) challenge. Antibiotics won’t treat the virus itself, but they can help reduce the risk of secondary bacterial infections. The tiamulin would be effective against Mycoplasma, which can commonly occur alongside or after IBV.

Thank you for this!
I hope her eye situation is not health-threatening. If it is a conformational abnormality, will it typically get worse or better for her as she grows?

Re IBV - The first chick with sniffles could have come from the hatchery that way, I'm not sure. I have thought that dust on me from the other hens, like in my hair, gave them whatever it is. Because the one older hen gets bubbly eyes I have thought that it is not IBV but mycoplasma. Is it possible she may have mycoplasma, but the other two hens have some kind of chronic IBV?

 

[ChicoryBlue]

That is  not normal! I'd suspect increased ocular pressure although that's usually painful so I'd also expect she would be acting off compared to your other chicks if that were the case. Whether it's increased pressure, a congenital defect, or something else entirely I'm not sure how it would be treated.

Thank you, yes, it doesn't look like it would feel good but so far, she is not acting "off". She can see well - picks up bits of things and all and eats and drinks, and she jumps, flaps, flies and runs around with the others. No discharge from her eyes, nothing weird in her stance, etc.

 

[micstrachan]

This 21-days old Buckeye chick on the left, her eyes really stick out and I've noticed it the last few days.
View attachment 4156616I think she was always a bit bug-eyed, but not sure. It seems the glassy corneas are bulging. Her sinuses and eye skin don't look swollen to me, are they? What do you all think? Shall I try to take her to a vet? More pictures, and situational information follow.

A few pics show how the eyes catch the sunlight and refract it.

View attachment 4156613
View attachment 4156614

Here she took a drink and half-closed her eyes as she swallowed. As I've been watching her she appears active and alert, not lethargic.
View attachment 4156615
View attachment 4156619
View attachment 4156620
View attachment 4156621

Besides this, there's been another thing going on: one chick was snorting for a few days every now and then, and then a second chick began doing it, and it became more often, and somebody, maybe the same chick(s) are /was pooping cecal-like goopy poops and I put these together as something going on. I started a treatment of Tiamulin 12.5%, 1ml in a quart of water, including 2 tablespoons of sugar and 2 tablespoons of boiled cider, this morning.

I suspect some kind of chronic respiratory disease with my four older hens, possibly mycoplasma, though two tests last year came up negative. My five-year old Buckeye hen Hazel's eyes get bubbly when she's stressed, and the two-year old Buff Orps Anna and Tedi sometimes get a clear nasal discharge but no other obvious symptoms. A third Buff Orp shows no symptoms.

So I've tried to do chick stuff with the indoor brooder before going out to the older hens pen, and change clothes and shower before again being with the chicks inside. Either this is an unrelated illness or my precautions haven't been enough.

Thank you for any advice you have to offer!

Yes, it looks like maybe they bulge out a bit. It would be helpful to have other photos to compare to. If her vision seems fine and she can close her eyelids, I think it’s not a problem. She’s adorable!

For the respiratory stuff, I personally would keep a close watch and not intervene yet. It sounds like you are doing your best with biosecurity as they build their immunity. My Buttercup’s eyes bubble slightly occadionally, as well. I, too, suspect mycoplasma in my flock. And since I’ve had a few with egg shell issues, I suspect IB, too (they have only had a little bit of occasional sneezing over the years and never anything more serious, but… the egg shells!)

For the poop, you are prepared to treat coccidiosis as soon as you suspect it, right?