Chicks with eyes swollen shut and irritated legs

[Debs55]

One of my broody hens hatched out 5 chicks about 5 days ago. Today I picked up a chick because it didn't run away when I bent down and both of its eyes were swollen shut. At first I thought it was blind. I then checked all of the chicks and all but one of them had both or one eye swollen shut. I brought mom and chicks inside and held a warm clothe with some diluted saline on it and the eyes did open but barely a slit cause the eyelid area is so swollen. Also 3 of them have irritated legs which I put Vaseline on. Any idea what could cause this? Suggestions on what I should do? I think maybe ants bit themmaybe..I'm really not sure. I have another set of chicks in the same pen and their eyes are fine and so are their legs. However they did have ants on their feet but I didn't see any on their bodies

 

[Judy]

You need to get rid of the ant, in whatever way you can. I have seen ants kill chicks.

 

[Debs55]

I've brought this set of chicks inside. Any suggestions on how to get rid of the ants? I've tried DE already

 

[bluegrasslady]

Pyrethrum dust. Won't hurt the chickens, kills and repels bugs. Will kill cats though so be advised.

 

[Debs55]

We have 7 cats so I guess I can't do that now. Plus it's supposed to pour down rain for a few days

 

[bluegrasslady]

Hmmm. Can you move them into a raised brooder for a bit?? Could spray the legs of a raised brooder with barrier pesticide to prevent the ants reaching them there. Although I have to say I question the ant theory a little because if I am reading this right (I just reread it) you have other chicks in the same pen that aren't affected.....maybe because they are older and therefore tougher??? I just don't know. I think I would take them from Henny Penny though and brood them either indoors or in a raised pen and see what that gets you. It's always frustrating when things go wrong with chicks

 

[Debs55]

I think the ants got to them cause the hen slept with them on the ground under the coop instead of in it like the other momma hens did. Right now all 5 chicks and mom are in dog kennels that I took apart and connected together in my room until the weather gets better and I can move them someplace else. I've been cleaning their eyes with warm diluted saline 2 to 3 times a day and as of a few minutes ago 4 chicks had both eyes open without me helping and the other one only had one shut. I think they are making pretty good progress . We've already discussed putting out a spectracide away from the pens once it stops raining to keep them under control. Thanks for the responses!