Chick bulging eyes

[chickachickayea]

I have a 4 week old chick that I just noticed seems to have slightly buggy bulging eyes, and she's been walking around a bit squinty today. I've been at work so I'm trying to keep an eye on her from the chick cam... She seems to be eating/drinking/preening fine, crop is currently full. She is a bit on the smaller side out of the other 4 chicks she's mixed with. They are currently in our basement in a dog cage with pine shavings (which I just switched to a few days ago) and a heat lamp.

I could just be overly paranoid and she's just tiny with buggy eyes, but the squinting is what is somewhat alarming... Is there anything I can do for her?

(not squinty here!)

TIA!

 

[azygous]

Not what you asked, but you may have a little cockerel. Watch that comb over this next week and if it turns more orange, you have a boy.

What was your previous brooder bedding? How long have the eyes been this way? Since the beginning? Or since the bedding was changed. Or sometime in between?

There's a chance this could be genetic. There's a chance it can be from something getting into the eyes and irritating them. See if flushing the eyes generously with saline lubricating eye drops makes the chick squint less.

 

[chickachickayea]

Not what you asked, but you may have a little cockerel. Watch that comb over this next week and if it turns more orange, you have a boy.

What was your previous brooder bedding? How long have the eyes been this way? Since the beginning? Or since the bedding was changed. Or sometime in between?

There's a chance this could be genetic. There's a chance it can be from something getting into the eyes and irritating them. See if flushing the eyes generously with saline lubricating eye drops makes the chick squint less.

Hmm she was sexed as a pullet from a reliable breeder, but I'll keep an eye on the comb. I already have 1 rooster...

They were on newspaper up until Monday when I graduated them to pine shavings. I just noticed today that her eyes were squinty, she was not like that before. Could she have dust in her eyes? Are OTC saline lubricating drops okay? She is moving around okay and gets the zoomies, but I have noticed her trying to peck at stuff and missing it due to the squinting...

Thanks!

 

[azygous]

The store brand saline eye drops, the kind people use for dry eyes. Flush her eyes real thoroughly. Can't hurt her even if you try.

She could have a genetic eye problem and isn't seeing well, or maybe not at all.

 

[chickachickayea]

The store brand saline eye drops, the kind people use for dry eyes. Flush her eyes real thoroughly. Can't hurt her even if you try.

She could have a genetic eye problem and isn't seeing well, or maybe not at all.

I'll try it out and hope it helps.

I have their treat block strung up and she is happily pecking away at that, so maybe she can see and her eyes are just irritated...

Thanks again!

 

[chickachickayea]

@azygous Just wanted to make sure before I try this... Are either of these okay?

After I got home from the store I remembered that I have these little saline packs for my netipot, could this work as well?

TIA!

 

[OneMountainAcres]

Don't worry, she's a pulled Just keep an eye on her. If she starts keeping her eye closed, treat with tylosin. Look up one eye cold in chickens. There's not a lot of info out there on it but tylosin clears it up. Water soluble is the easiest treatment.