Chicken with red eye.

Mapleina

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Apr 2, 2022
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One of our chickens has two irritated eyes. (Originally just one.) The orange part appears a little red, and she occasionally closes both. There has been no abnormalities in her behavior. It's just her eye. No swelling, no discharge. It's been going on for about 1 week. Has anyone experienced this, or know how to help?
 
Can you post a photo?
20220402_164648.jpg
 
I don't see anything abnormal or to worry about.
Remember that yellow shanks and red-orange eye color in chickens are also given by carotenoids, which can be also found in the yolk (they give it that orange-red colour).
Laying hens use their carotenoids to put them in the eggs: they transfer the carotenoids from their reserves to the yolk. Because of this orange eyes and yellow shanks may appear slightly paler in laying hens. Carotenoids are assumed from certain foods and chickens free to graze usually assume more of them.
Maybe she's just assuming more carotenoids. Keep an eye on her but I wouldn't worry.
 
Is there good ventilation in your coop, or any fumes of ammonia that may be irritating her eyes? You could try flushing her eyes with saline eye wash. Terramycin eye ointment might be helpful. Vetericyn eye wash or gel may be good as well.
 
We try to keep it clean by hand picking the poop out and having fresh woodchips. No ammonia smell. We are now putting saline solution in her eye and giving her vitamin c. Lately she's been sleeping more. (We have her in a small cage so maybe that's why?) When we pick her up she closes both eyes and sometimes starts opening her mouth to breath. I find this odd for she doesn't appear to be congested. Maybe it's the position? I noticed a small transparent covering in one of her eyes. When she's out of the cage she acts normal. I don't know what it is that she has.
 
We try to keep it clean by hand picking the poop out and having fresh woodchips. No ammonia smell. We are now putting saline solution in her eye and giving her vitamin c. Lately she's been sleeping more. (We have her in a small cage so maybe that's why?) When we pick her up she closes both eyes and sometimes starts opening her mouth to breath. I find this odd for she doesn't appear to be congested. Maybe it's the position? I noticed a small transparent covering in one of her eyes. When she's out of the cage she acts normal. I don't know what it is that she has.
Why is she kept in a small cage?
 
She is separated from the other chickens because she appears sick. We will be taking her to the vet. She has bubbly eyes now so I want to get her seen.
 

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