dry/crusty eye on cayuga hen

[yuppie chicks]

We have a 3 year old female that developed a light brown halo around one eye last year. After thinking it may be a illness we watched it, but nothing further developed and we decided it was just a change in feather color surrounding her eye. But this year the other eye has developed the same condition and looks squinty. I am wondering if this is something to treat or to leave alone. Will post picture when we can get a decent one. Thanks.

 

[pixie peeps]

Could be mites. Sometimes they do stuff like that. There are natural sprays to get rid of them. Also, if you have it, it's good to put food grade diatomaceous earth on the floor of the coop. It feels like glass cutting them and they don't like it and leave. It worked on my coop. The spray was: 4 cups water, 1 cup cooking oil, and one tablespoon dish washing liquid. If there are mites, you'll notice. If you put your hand on the coop then see little bugs crawling all over it, you've got mites. Also, check her butt were the poop comes out, if there are mites there, treat her right away. You have to bathe them in something, but I can't remember what. In some cases, mites can kill chickens.

 

[yuppie chicks]

 

[pixie peeps]

Looks kinda like my hens at first, I coated her with the food grade diatomaceous earth and it went away. Can't be for sure though.