Could use some help on chicken eye problem!

[majortaylor]

Ok, I know lots has been posted here about eye problems but I was wondering if anyone could help me with my chicken’s eye problem!
One week ago, my smallest hen started to go a little quiet.
4 days ago her left eye shut.
Eye is still shut with the same symptoms since it closed:
No swelling
No discharge
No nasal dripping
No crusting
No breathing difficulties
When I open the lid of the eye there are:
No scratches to the eye
No debris in the eye socket
The eye isn’t cloudy
She has no paralysis of the body.
She is eating and drinking normally.
I have her separated as she is lathargic and eating is difficult due to only being able to see with one eye.
She holds her head to the side when she looks around. I think this is more due to trying to see with one eye.
Her comb is red as are her wattles.
She scratches that side of her face fairly frequently.
Frankly I’m stumped as to what could be wrong with her! If anyone could suggest anything, it would be greatly appreciated as she doesn’t seem to be getting better or worse.

 

[ChattyChickens4Life]

Could there be something stuck in her eye? Since no symptoms are present that would scream, "Problem!" I would think that there could possibly be sand or dirt or a bug in her eye. As for the lethargy, could there be another sickness? How do the droppings look? Does she have mites? Worms? Best wishes!

-Chatty

 

[Lamaremybabies]

Sounds like either a bee sting or insect bite. I’d keep and eye on it but she should be fine in a couple days.

 

[ChattyChickens4Life]

Sounds like either a bee sting or insect bite. I’d keep and eye on it but she should be fine in a couple days.

It it was a sting, wouldn't there be swelling? Just a question.

 

[Lamaremybabies]

It it was a sting, wouldn't there be swelling? Just a question.

Typically, yes. But seeing as how her eye is shut and she isn’t opening it that could be the cause and she may just have a higher tolerance. I’ve had two different hens get stung on the face and one puffed up like a ballon and the other way barely any different than normal. However you could be correct and she may just have something in her eye. Or even had something and is now just irritated.

 

[majortaylor]

Her droppings look good, no wateriness and are fully formed. I flushed her eye out with saline a few days ago but nothing came out.
I just got her to drink a moment ago and she tilts her head all the way back and towards the sky when she swallows. I’m starting to wonder if she has a inner ear infection...

 

[Lamaremybabies]

Her droppings look good, no wateriness and are fully formed. I flushed her eye out with saline a few days ago but nothing came out.
I just got her to drink a moment ago and she tilts her head all the way back and towards the sky when she swallows. I’m starting to wonder if she has a inner ear infection...

Have you tried looking inside her mouth to make sure that it isn’t something going on in there?

 

[ChattyChickens4Life]

Her droppings look good, no wateriness and are fully formed. I flushed her eye out with saline a few days ago but nothing came out.
I just got her to drink a moment ago and she tilts her head all the way back and towards the sky when she swallows. I’m starting to wonder if she has a inner ear infection...

Possible. But the way you described her drinking water sounds normal. Unless it's very exaggerated, all my chickens tilt there head up to swallow. I will do some research. Best wishes!

-Chatty

 

[majortaylor]

I haven’t. I’m going to go do that now and see if there is swelling or anything in there.

 

[majortaylor]

Possible. But the way you described her drinking water sounds normal. Unless it's very exaggerated, all my chickens tilt there head up to swallow. I will do some research. Best wishes!

-Chatty

It’s pretty exaggerated and the neck is tilted all the way to the side of her body. Similar to wry neck, but only when she drinks... the poor thing