Hen keeps one eye closed

[Txfarm2009]

Two days ago I noticed one of my hens had her right eye closed all the time. She will briefly open it but immediately shuts it again. I cannot see anything wrong with it. She really fights if I try to hold her head to look at it. I thought perhaps one of the others pecked her and hit her eye. Or perhaps she got some sand in her eye. But it doesn’t seem to be getting better. She is lethargic and not wanting to eat. She is a 4 year old Buff Orpington who is lower on the pecking order, but usually quite active. Any ideas as to what is wrong???

 

[alinas2010]

Hey sorry to hear about your hen’s eye. How is it doing today? Any better?

Have you attempted to rinse it out? Also is she showing any signs of respiratory illness? Post some pics if you are able to. If you haven’t already and this isn’t respiratory related, go ahead and rinse the eye and look for foreign objects in it. Then pick up some Terramycin ointment to apply a few times a day. You can usually get it at farm stores.

 

[Txfarm2009]

Hey sorry to hear about your hen’s eye. How is it doing today? Any better?

Have you attempted to rinse it out? Also is she showing any signs of respiratory illness? Post some pics if you are able to. If you haven’t already and this isn’t respiratory related, go ahead and rinse the eye and look for foreign objects in it. Then pick up some Terramycin ointment to apply a few times a day. You can usually get it at farm stores.

The eye is still shut and is now quite swollen. I have been holding a warm wet washcloth against that eye but I think I will switch to cold due to the swelling. No sign of respiratory difficulty and she is going out each morning with the others, just not quite as spunky as usual.
Thank you for the ideas. I will try to rinse the eye and see if I can get some Terramycin at TSC tomorrow. Thanks again.

 

[alinas2010]

The eye is still shut and is now quite swollen. I have been holding a warm wet washcloth against that eye but I think I will switch to cold due to the swelling. No sign of respiratory difficulty and she is going out each morning with the others, just not quite as spunky as usual.
Thank you for the ideas. I will try to rinse the eye and see if I can get some Terramycin at TSC tomorrow. Thanks again.

Darn I’m sorry to hear it got larger. The compress is a good idea. You may end up needing to remove pus. A warm compress will help soften the pus to get it out. I’ll try to find some information about how to do that for you. But definitely start by rinsing and looking for a debris as much as you can. The Terramycin eye ointment should also help. They may keep it locked up, but you won’t need a prescription to get it, just have to ask. Let us know how she does and get some pics if you can.

 

[alinas2010]

Here is a helpful video the other educators share about removing pus. I know it seems brutal, but it will need to come out:

 

[Txfarm2009]

Darn I’m sorry to hear it got larger. The compress is a good idea. You may end up needing to remove pus. A warm compress will help soften the pus to get it out. I’ll try to find some information about how to do that for you. But definitely start by rinsing and looking for a debris as much as you can. The Terramycin eye ointment should also help. They may keep it locked up, but you won’t need a prescription to get it, just have to ask. Let us know how she does and get some pics if you can.

I put a warm wet compress on her eye again this morning. Then I flushed the eye with warm water; I held her eye open while I did it. I did not see anything in her eye except it was watery, apart from the water I poured over it. Here is a picture.

 

[alinas2010]

I put a warm wet compress on her eye again this morning. Then I flushed the eye with warm water; I held her eye open while I did it. I did not see anything in her eye except it was watery, apart from the water I poured over it. Here is a picture.

It may just be infected. Start her on the Terramycin eye ointment as soon as you can.

 

[Txfarm2009]

It may just be infected. Start her on the Terramycin eye ointment as soon as you can.

I went to TSC this afternoon but they did not have Terramycin. I ended up with MicrocynAH, which the man said was for the same purpose. I put a couple drops of ointment on her eye when I got home. The label says once or twice a day; it does not mention chickens, just dogs, cats and rabbits.
Do you think it should be in the eye, eyelid held open, or just on the eye?

 

[alinas2010]

Is this what you got?

https://mannapro.com/products/microcynah-ophthalmic-gel

I would think that is fine for chickens, also, but it does not have quite the same ingredients as Terramycin does. I would say absolutely try it and see if there is any improvement within a few days. I would put it in the eye as much as possible, but also around the eye.

It looks as though it may be becoming tougher to get Terramycin over the counter, unfortunately. Sorry about that.

This site will sell it without a prescription, but it appears they are sold out:

https://allbirdproducts.com/products/terramycin-ointment

If this gel you bought doesn’t work, (I think it will), some people have used Neosporin (without pain relief) in their chicken’s eye and I believe there is even an ophthalmic Neosporin for the eyes you may be able to find. However, be aware that regular Neosporin does come with a warning not to use in eyes. I have used it before with no issues, but just use at your own risk.