Do my month-old chicks have an eye infection?

[Megan Smith]

We purchased seven one month old chicks about a week ago from a woman that had many birds. She kept them in a smaller barn with lots of dust and not much ventilation. Two of them seemed to be keeping one of their eyes closed most of the time. Since then, one has gotten significantly worse. He keeps both eyes closed most of the time, but when he opens them we see a lot of white goo. Two others have been keeping one of their eyes closed, but no discharge. They are all still eating and walking around our yard fine. Is this an eye infection? Should we separate them? How should we treat this?

 

[Chickenlover2017]

Hmm I don't know do you have a pic we can post a pic

 

[Pyxis]

This could be eye irritation or it could be a sign of a very nasty respiratory infection, which you do NOT want in your flock. Have these been in quarantine?

Any other symptoms? Any sneezing, nasal discharge, a bad smell on them, etc?

 

[Megan Smith]

We were able to go most of the goo out of one eye from the worst one. He is opening that eye a bit more, but this is a picture of his eye closed. The white one isn't as bad, but he's keeping it closed and it's very watery.

 

[Megan Smith]

They have been acting normal besides their eyes. All the discharge came this morning and wasn't there before. They smell like chickens normally do, have not been sneezing, and haven't hand runny noses.

 

[Pyxis]

Could be just eye irritation then, but I'd be keeping an eye on them and make sure they are staying in quarantine away from the rest of your birds, if you haven't let them come into contact already. These respiratory diseases I am talking about can be very nasty and you don't want your whole flock to get one, because with some of the diseases, the only way to get rid of them is to cull the whole infected flock and start over.

For now, try applying terramycin to their eyes. If it's an eye infection, that should clear it up.

 

[Megan Smith]

Thank you, we will keep them separate. Where could we find terramycin?

 

[Pyxis]

Thank you, we will keep them separate. Where could we find terramycin?

Tractor Supply sells it, so if you have one local to you, you could pick it up there.

 

[Megan Smith]

Okay, we do, thanks again!