Eye injury or something else??

[BookWormDenise]

Hello! I am a first time chicken keeper and my first flock is almost 8 weeks old. I noticed just now that one of my pullets, Mildred, is holding one of her eyes closed. I watched her for a long time and thought she was acting lethargic, but I’m not completely sure. I saw her eat, drink and peck at another chick — all normal behavior for her but I just feel like she’s not as perky as normal. I picked her up to look at her eye closer but she didn’t protest like she normally would. I don’t see any wounds on her or any other birds. I didn’t get to see her poop so I don’t know her status there. I don’t know what breed she is because I ordered 16 different breeds of day-old chicks and she’s one of the ones I haven’t been able to match up yet. My guess is a Welsummer?

Here are a few pictures…

The bad eye…

The good eye…

Napping/resting…

I took a picture of her yesterday afternoon napping as well so I’m thinking whatever is going on has been happening since yesterday…

I am going to mix up electrolytes, probiotics and apple cider vinegar for their water. Is there anything else I can do??

Oh, and I do live in Texas where it’s extremely hot, but yesterday we finally had rain and it was cooler. It’s warmer today and humid but it’s under 100 and their entire run is shaded under a metal roof. Unfortunately we’ve had quite a few days of temperatures over 100 lately but the chicks have all been ok with the heat as far as I can tell so my current thought is that Mildred’s problem is not just the heat.

Many thanks in advance!

 

[Tookie]

I had this happen to two of my chickens! I'm in TX too, maybe its the weather? One of them had their eye closed only for one night and got better. The other one I'm not sure if he's closing his eye still, I don't think he is though. They both closed their right eye. They're also not acting lethargic. So I don't know what's wrong. Your chick is a Welsummer pullet, looks like mine!

 

[BookWormDenise]

Thank you so much for the reply! Mildred is still holding her eye closed but otherwise seems normal. I hope it will heal eventually. Thanks also for the Welsummer confirmation!

 

[Sussex19]

Can you very gently open her eye?
Just to check that there isn't a piece of bedding or something stuck in there.
That happened to one of my cockerels; I waited a few days thinking that someone had peck it, but it didn't improve so I had a close look and found a piece of hay in there.
If there is you might be able to grab it with tweezers or wash it out.

 

[Tookie]

Thank you so much for the reply! Mildred is still holding her eye closed but otherwise seems normal. I hope it will heal eventually. Thanks also for the Welsummer confirmation!

Your welcome!

 

[BookWormDenise]

Can you very gently open her eye?
Just to check that there isn't a piece of bedding or something stuck in there.
That happened to one of my cockerels; I waited a few days thinking that someone had peck it, but it didn't improve so I had a close look and found a piece of hay in there.
If there is you might be able to grab it with tweezers or wash it out.

I will try it! Thank you!

 

[BookWormDenise]

It looks bad now!!! We couldn’t get her eyelid down at first so we used my contact lens solution to moisten it. Her eye is totally cloudy! I’m so sad for her. I can’t imagine that what has happened can be reversed at this point. We flushed her eye and put a tiny bit of Optixcare in for lubrication. We couldn’t see anything foreign in there but we have no idea what we’re doing. The other eye still looks ok. I called my vet and he doesn’t see chickens but I found one is a neighboring town who does. I have an appointment tomorrow afternoon at 1:30.

 

[Tookie]

It looks bad now!!! We couldn’t get her eyelid down at first so we used my contact lens solution to moisten it. Her eye is totally cloudy! I’m so sad for her. I can’t imagine that what has happened can be reversed at this point. We flushed her eye and put a tiny bit of Optixcare in for lubrication. We couldn’t see anything foreign in there but we have no idea what we’re doing. The other eye still looks ok. I called my vet and he doesn’t see chickens but I found one is a neighboring town who does. I have an appointment tomorrow afternoon at 1:30.

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This is very strange. Poor girl! Do you think that eye is blind? It looks like it from the picture.

 

[BookWormDenise]

This is very strange. Poor girl! Do you think that eye is blind? It looks like it from the picture.

I think it must be. I’m about to go check on her again.

 

[Tookie]

How is she doing?