EYE PROBLEM

[CarolyneT]

My bantam often has her eye /eyes closed or squints, we have looked and her eyes are still bright and normal. She is fine in herself. Any ideas please?

 

[chooks4life]

How long has it been going on? Do the eyes weep or water a lot or do they seem normal or dry?

Poisoning can cause light sensitivity. Is she drinking out of something that could be leaching into the water? Bricks are not safe either. If she's eaten certain plants that can cause light sensitivity too.

Another possibility is that she is severely ill. If her eyes are often closed and nothing seems wrong with them, then best to assume she needs help. What are her poops like? Has she lost weight? Does she eat normally etc? Is she ranging normally (assuming you allow them to range). Best wishes.

 

[Eggcessive]

What kind of bedding do you have? Is there any swelling around her eyes?

 

[CarolyneT]

Chaff bedding, no swelling and nice and clear. It is both eyes, she looks like I feel when my eyes are tired or gritty and I just want to close them.

 

[chooks4life]

Chaff is notorious for causing issues. I've heard endless stories from livestock owners of all sorts about the expensive issues caused by using chaff. It gets inhaled, gets in eyes, etc, which isn't usually an issue for people who wet it down but if she's been dustbathing in chaff and dust she could have some nasty stuff in her eye sockets. I know of some old natural treatments for it but there's not much chance you'd be able to access the necessary items. If it is chaff causing the distress I would assume she may have splinters in her eyes or eyesockets... But I don't know for sure. Someone who's had a similar issue could probably advise you on what to do for it.

 

[CarolyneT]

Miscanthus bedding is what it we use, I just checked. Should we not use that?

 

[chooks4life]

Sorry, I don't know, I've never even heard of it, lol. But someone here probably has. If you don't think she has any actual injury to the eyes, changing the bedding might be all that is needed, but if all your other chooks are fine, maybe she just got unlucky and managed to blink in a whole faceful of dust? Long shot, but random stuff happens. Best wishes.

 

[CarolyneT]

I have hay fever and her eyes look how mine feel lol. They are itching but there is no soreness or swelling. She can open them and they are bright and clear, she just rests them a lot or squints. Do birds get hayfever????

 

[chooks4life]

I recall hearing some equivalent of it in poultry. Like some cats/dogs/horses/etc being allergic to random things just like humans. She could be sensitized to something that doesn't harm the others. As far as I know (which may not be far enough to be useful lol) horses get hayfever and so do dogs. I googled it just now and only found this forum, several threads of which, with people asking if chooks can get hayfever, but their symptoms were just sneezing.

In order to find out if she's sensitive to something in her environment you'd have to take it away, or take her away. If it really is the equivalent of hayfever she should show improvement very quickly from what I've heard. Sorry I don't know more, it'd be great if someone who did know showed up and answered your questions... Anyway, all the best.