Chick with unequal pupils, head tilt and lethargic

[F650]

Hello all,

I have about a 4 week old white leghorn pullet that has unequal pupils. In the last 3-4 days, she became lethargic and not acting herself. Stays to herself in the brooder. She cocks her head to her left side which seems to be her “hurt” eye. She favors the right eye which is less reactive to light than the left. She doesn’t run into things and can spot a laser pointer shining at the ground on both sides of her body. Despite her being able to see, I believe she is lethargic because she is not eating and drinking enough.

Initially I thought it might be cocci due to the lethargy so they are all on Corid and I have been feeding (mainly hydrating her) with a syringe.

I now don’t think it’s cocci but something to do with her eyes/head. She at points, will now walk in circle a circle or two.

I know in humans unequal pupils is usually a sign of trauma to the head, but she’s had a pretty easy time in the brooder so I am at a loss.

Thanks for any help.

Dan

 

[Chickabee22484]

If she's with other chicks, could another one maybe pecked the eye?

 

[F650]

Hi Chickabee,

She is with 7 other chicks so it’s definite possibility, but I haven’t noticed any bullying or cannibalizing. I inspected both eyes and nothing seems off except the unequal pupil sizes.

 

[4 ever Orpington]

If she's with other chicks, could another one maybe pecked the eye?

Love your avatar!

 

[rebrascora]

She is at the very youngest possible age for it, but Marek's Disease comes to mind from the symptoms you describe, especially now that she is walking in circles.

Where did you get her from? If she came from a hatchery and so did all the other chicks then it is unlikely unless you have other chickens that are carrying the disease and you cross contaminated the chicks via your hair, skin or clothing. Marek's spreads via dander dust which can easily be transmitted by such means. Sadly there is no accepted treatment for Marek's. It is caused by a virus and is often fatal, if not as a result of an initial attack, then during subsequent outbreaks.
If she came from a breeder then Marek's is more likely.

 

[F650]

We got her and the several others in the brooder with her from Rural King. I believe the hatchery was out in NM. We do have older chickens but they haven’t been in contact with them.

If it is Marek’s, I am worried for the other chicks and my older flock. What do you recommend for taking precautions?

Thank you for your help.

 

[Eggcessive]

It also could be some type of neurological damage. Mareks can cause a pinpoint pupil, an irregular shaped pupil, and grey iris color change, but as said, she is way younger than most chickens who get Mareks symptoms. Apparently symptoms can start between 3 and 25 weeks commonly, but she is at the earliest age.

Head injury or a brain damage can also cause pupil changes. Wry neck, also a neurological symptom can cause running backward or in circles, twisted neck, so I would suspect some brain injury as well as possible Mareks.

 

[F650]

Thank you all for your help. I will educate myself on Wry Neck.

 

[Chickabee22484]

Love your avatar!

Thank you!! He's our guy! We call him Guy Diamond haha, my daughter named him...

 

[F650]

Update -

The chick is still lethargic and she doesn’t seem to be able to eat or drink on her own.

Her pupils look better, but I am not sure how well she can see. She keeps the “hurt” eye open now but she still does this head turned to the left (which was the larger pupil originally). It’s almost as if she is trying to look straight with her right eye?

She doesn’t have any paralysis, quite the contrary. She prefers to stand all day, and can scratch her ear with her foot without losing balance. I haven’t noticed any raised or roughened follicles. The only symptoms for vote for Marek’s is the vision impairment.

Her neck isn’t as bad as what I have seen in chicks with wry neck.

I am treating her with:

Poly-Vis-Ol (no iron)
Vitamin E
Corid

And she is isolated now from the other chicks. I am trying to keep her close by the other chicks for emotional support but I still fear for the welfare of the others. The other chicks appear to really healthy so there is that for the time being.

I do remember when she was a few days old, she was flipped on her back, but she righted herself and ran off. I thought she was doing some silly chick behavior and excused it. Could it be related?

Also, when is it time to decide to cull her?

Thank you for reading and any advice.

Dan