Closed eyes??

[OurLittlebitRanch]

I had someone ask me about a problem with their chick and I have never heard of it before. Two of their chicks have their eyes, or just one eye shut all of the time. She said it almost looks like it has been sealed shut.
Any ideas what it could be?
Is it contagious?
How do you treat it?
I thought that maybe they got pocked in the eye with something dust, or wood chips/straw, but I am wondering if maybe it is sick. Other than that they are acting "normal"

 

[froggiesheins]

Have you tried using warm water on a Q-tip to see if they are crusted shut by the chicks own tears? Have you tried to manually open them at all?

 

[OurLittlebitRanch]

I looked at them and it does not appear that it is crusted shut, it almost looks like it grew shut.......... but I know that just a few weeks ago when they left here they appeared to be normal. I will see if I can get her to send me a picture.

 

[froggiesheins]

Hmmm, don't know if they can grow shut, my guess is that they are "glued" shut somehow....Need to do the Q-tip warm water OR eye ointment thing to see if she can get them to open...