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?

 

[Ponypoor]

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!

Gosh they are growing like weeds.

First, can she close her eyes normally to sleep? Or blink normally? Have you seen her inner eyelid at work? As long as they function normally and she isn’t running into things I would just put it down to a trait she will have. My Mrs LC seems to have bulgy eyes but they work fine so I don’t worry about them.

As for the sniffles, as ThePoutryDoc stated they are likely going through a virus, and maybe some other respiratory illness. No matter what precautions you take they will likely still get whatever illnesses are circulating in your main flock. I also, like you, would have thrown mine on Tylosin or similar to help them along. You know my thoughts on meds.

You are bound to notice all the differences due to the amt of time you spend with them, which is a good thing, you can catch anything early on to treat; and remember as long as they are eating drinking and pooping, just take it one day at a time and enjoy them.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Yes, it looks like maybe they bulge out a bit. It would be helpful to have other photos to compare to.

Here's Shai, a very big chick, the biggest here. Her feet are huge, she's going to be a tank.

This is Brow, named because of her left eyebrow marking.

Not sure who this is or the one below near the waterer. I am beginning to differentiate the ones without significant features by behavior more than markings.

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

I have treatment amprolium on hand, have not seen any blood or weird poops beyond the goopy light brown poops. They are on medicated starter feed. They have not been outside on real ground yet. They got the box of dirt after 7-10 days, and I sourced it from the forest here, not where the other chickens have ever gone. Whatever's in it the wild animals & birds have contributed.

First, can she close her eyes normally to sleep? Or blink normally? Have you seen her inner eyelid at work?

I haven't seen her outer eyelid close all the way lately, not because it can't, but as they've grown and we've been having fun interactions, now, every time I approach they generally move about or wake up and get all interested in what's going to happen. I'll have to be very stealthy! If she were lethargic and ill-acting then I'd likely be able to tell better so maybe that's a good thing!

The inner eyelid is working, for sure, I see her blink with it. It happens too fast to see if it goes all the way over.

I also, like you, would have thrown mine on Tylosin or similar to help them along. You know my thoughts on meds.

We are fairly similar on most meds issues I think. I considered, and the whole Annie experience made me paranoid and proactive about it and not want to wait for visible decline beyond the nasal discharge and abnormal poops. I have Amoxy-Tyl available. I was all "OMG they have the hen's mycoplasma" and so went right to the Tiamulin. Maybe nobody of the older hens has mycoplasma and it's been chronic IBV all along. Bubbly eyes with IB?

I do have concern for wiping out their inner good gut microbes that are developing. I have Sav A Chick probiotics packs, do that now or after treatment ends? Other ideas? They don't have grit yet but I can introduce it.

, just take it one day at a time and enjoy them.

Thanks for this reminder, I do swing between joy and worry!