Chicken with swollen eye

[redfrog11]

Hello everyone,

My chicken has developed a swollen eye. It was bubbly yesterday but today it has become swollen shut. She is at least 3 years old but she is adopted so not sure of her real age. She is having trouble moving around because she can't see out of the eye, but apart from that she is acting fine (eating, drinking, poop all okay). So far I've given her an overall health check and nothing was unusual. I also cleaned the dirt off her swollen eye. My other chickens are acting fine.

Nothing has changed in the chicken coop recently, but I did treat the entire flock for scaly leg mites a few days ago (another of the girls was showing symptoms) so it is possible I got pestene powder in her eye if that could've caused it? I'm a bit stuck because apart from the eye she is completely normal.

Unfortunately I am in self-isolation at the moment so cannot take her to the vet immediately, but am trying to arrange for someone to do that for early next week (when the vet is next open).

Any ideas in the meantime?

https://vimeo.com/user111547496/review/403187175/3a30623e29 here is a video of her (she usually walks like that, just with more confidence!)
Thanks for your help

 

[lena_]

Is it usually gray in that area? If so it looks she could have scraped or bruised the eye? Chickens peck at eyes, so it might just be that.

When my chickens had canker (a disease spread by wild birds) their eyes became bubbly, and were leaking a foamy discharge. Has she shown any other symptoms?

(I'm a studying vet btw,

 

[redfrog11]

Is it usually gray in that area? If so it looks she could have scraped or bruised the eye? Chickens peck at eyes, so it might just be that.

When my chickens had canker (a disease spread by wild birds) their eyes became bubbly, and were leaking a foamy discharge. Has she shown any other symptoms?

(I'm a studying vet btw,

Thank you so much for your reply! It is possible she was pecked, due to her size she's at the bottom of the pecking order If it is a scrape, should I treat it any further?

Do you mean grey around her eye? If so, yes she does. Here's a photo from last year if that helps.

I did notice last year her eye got periodically bubbly for a few weeks in winter, but the problem went away when the weather warmed up.

 

[lena_]

Thank you so much for your reply! It is possible she was pecked, due to her size she's at the bottom of the pecking order If it is a scrape, should I treat it any further?

Do you mean grey around her eye? If so, yes she does. Here's a photo from last year if that helps.

I did notice last year her eye got periodically bubbly for a few weeks in winter, but the problem went away when the weather warmed up.
View attachment 2071961

I'd suggest flushing her eye out with a saline solution, as that will flush out bacteria and relieve swelling. If she's bottom of the pecking order and you haven't noticed any other symptoms she's most likely been pecked or scraped her eye on something.
See how she is after a saline rinse and if the swelling goes down at all.

 

[redfrog11]

I'd suggest flushing her eye out with a saline solution, as that will flush out bacteria and relieve swelling. If she's bottom of the pecking order and you haven't noticed any other symptoms she's most likely been pecked or scraped her eye on something.
See how she is after a saline rinse and if the swelling goes down at all.

I tried the saline last night which helped reduce the swelling. This morning it was swollen again so I used the saline. This is what she looks like at the moment. It does look like there's a small scratch on the top right of her eye? Still eating and drinking as normal

 

[lena_]

View attachment 2072705View attachment 2072708
I tried the saline last night which helped reduce the swelling. This morning it was swollen again so I used the saline. This is what she looks like at the moment. It does look like there's a small scratch on the top right of her eye? Still eating and drinking as normal

Definitely an improvement! It looks as though she has a scratch that became infected. It it continues to swell you may need antibiotics, but it looks like the saline rinse did the trick. Make sure she is away from your other girls, as they will probably peck at the eye.

 

[redfrog11]

Definitely an improvement! It looks as though she has a scratch that became infected. It it continues to swell you may need antibiotics, but it looks like the saline rinse did the trick. Make sure she is away from your other girls, as they will probably peck at the eye.

Her eye is nearly back to normal now. I'll keep a close eye on her for the next few weeks in case any other symptoms pop up.

Thank you so much for your help

 

[lena_]

Her eye is nearly back to normal now. I'll keep a close eye on her for the next few weeks in case any other symptoms pop up.

Thank you so much for your help

I'm glad I was able to help! Hoping your girl makes a speedy recovery!

 

[redfrog11]

I'm glad I was able to help! Hoping your girl makes a speedy recovery!

She is going great a week later