Could use some help on chicken eye problem!

[ChattyChickens4Life]

Quick question... Do you have the ability to go to the vet? I know some folks just aren't in the right financial of geographical situation.

 

[Lamaremybabies]

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

I’m starting to wonder if something she ate maybe poked or is irritating a nerve in her mouth that runs past her eye as well?

 

[ChattyChickens4Life]

Here is one thread I found:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/one-eye-closed-one-open.420059/
Here is another:
one eye closed and lethargic! | BackYard Chickens

I will keep looking!

 

[majortaylor]

Quick question... Do you have the ability to go to the vet? I know some folks just aren't in the right financial of geographical situation.

We have a friend who is an avian vet, but doesn’t deal with chickens. He can sometimes help but not always. He’s the only bird vet in the area. I figured if she didn’t show any signs of improvement by tomorrow, I’d call on his help, yet again!

 

[ChattyChickens4Life]

Ok, I found something. Let me just tell you basically what it says.

So this could be a symptom of a respiratory infection. Now, this would probably require a vet visit for antibiotics. You should listen to her breathing. Is it raspy or labored? Is there a clicking sound? The vet this particular person went to prescribed Baytril.

This may not be the problem, but just something to think on. Best wishes!


-Chatty

 

[Eggcessive]

It won't hurt to put some lubricating eye drops or saline in her eye a few times a day to see if there is improvement. Systane is good. Vetericyn has an eye gel and an eyewash that you might find in a feed store to use. Terramycin is an antibiotic eye ointment found in feed stores. More broad spectrum of an antibiotic drop is ciprofloxacin from FirstStateVetSupply online. But without some redness or drainage, you may not want to go to that extreme. Chickens can get eye irritation and sometimes ulcers from high ammonia levels, but most of us don't have that problem. I would think there would be swelling from a sting, or drainage or pus develop if there was dirt or a foreign body in the eye. Just keep a watch for those and any sneezing, head shaking, or gasping which are found in conjunctivitis, and sinus infections.

 

[majortaylor]

So I thought a photo might be helpful.
I just did a check inside her mouth, it’s all clear. We cleaned and checked out her ears and they are fine. Just flushed and checked her eye again and it’s fine. Also pupils are reactive and dilate with light so she hasn’t gone blind.
There is a tiny scab on her comb above the bad eye side (you can see it in the photo, all the way to the right) and the eyebrow is ever so slightly swollen above the bad eye.

 

[Lamaremybabies]

View attachment 1168407
So I thought a photo might be helpful.
I just did a check inside her mouth, it’s all clear. We cleaned and checked out her ears and they are fine. Just flushed and checked her eye again and it’s fine. Also pupils are reactive and dilate with light so she hasn’t gone blind.
There is a tiny scab on her comb above the bad eye side (you can see it in the photo, all the way to the right) and the eyebrow is ever so slightly swollen above the bad eye.

Looks and sounds like then one of your other hens pecked her. If it’s been four days I’d give it a couple more assuming she hasn’t been pecked since. Hen pecking in the face typically happens at night when they’re going to roost or while eating.

 

[majortaylor]

Looks and sounds like then one of your other hens pecked her. If it’s been four days I’d give it a couple more assuming she hasn’t been pecked since. Hen pecking in the face typically happens at night when they’re going to roost or while eating.

I wondered about that as we have a young rooster who is pretty bad at his wooing and resorts at grabbing occasionally which is usually around the head area. Do the eyeballs tend to show signs of being pecked?

 

[Lamaremybabies]

I wondered about that as we have a young rooster who is pretty bad at his wooing and resorts at grabbing occasionally which is usually around the head area. Do the eyeballs tend to show signs of being pecked?

That could very easily be.
Young roosters are slightly embarrassing to watch... they just have no clue how to do their thing, and the hens know it. My guy is two and has just mastered his wooing abilities.

It depends how hard the chicken is pecked. Usually it’s more or a warning thing than actually looking to hurt the chicken. I wouldn’t be too concerned as long as there isn’t any sign of infection. Which there really wouldn’t be unless skin was broken.