Hen Suddenly has White Eyes

[Lifespeechy]

Hi all,

Background: adopted 6 chickens off Craigslist 2wks ago. Added to single hen (remnant of fox decimated flock) at home. Affected hen is a new one. Was healthy at adoption. Sold as 2yo barred rock.

Situation: everyone was normal, eating, drinking, flocking. I was checking frequently during acclimation. 2 nights ago find a hen on the ground outside coop. Unsual, all had been roosting. Scooped her inside. Today I go out, feeding, talking to them, and she's still in the coop.

I urge her out, note her eyes are completely white. Completely opaque- both eyes. I can't see color through the white at all, and there's no bubbles, crust, or edges to the white. She's acting like she can't see, making hesitant steps, very vocal. I offered her some water. Drank a little from scoop.

Status: quarantine from flock, access to food water. She takes a few pecks, then closes her eyes and sits down.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi all,

Background: adopted 6 chickens off Craigslist 2wks ago. Added to single hen (remnant of fox decimated flock) at home. Affected hen is a new one. Was healthy at adoption. Sold as 2yo barred rock.

Situation: everyone was normal, eating, drinking, flocking. I was checking frequently during acclimation. 2 nights ago find a hen on the ground outside coop. Unsual, all had been roosting. Scooped her inside. Today I go out, feeding, talking to them, and she's still in the coop.

I urge her out, note her eyes are completely white. Completely opaque- both eyes. I can't see color through the white at all, and there's no bubbles, crust, or edges to the white. She's acting like she can't see, making hesitant steps, very vocal. I offered her some water. Drank a little from scoop.

Status: quarantine from flock, access to food water. She takes a few pecks, then closes her eyes and sits down.

Both eyes?
If you press on gently on the eyes, will that come out?
You got photos of her before this happened?

@Eggcessive

 

[Lifespeechy]

I don't have photos but these are very noticeably zombie eyes, I would not have overlooked it. Yes, both eyes are white. The eyes are not swollen, weeping or crusted. I will see about pressing tomorrow.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I don't have photos but these are very noticeably zombie eyes, I would not have overlooked it. Yes, both eyes are white. The eyes are not swollen, weeping or crusted. I will see about pressing tomorrow.

I can't help but chuckle just a little bit over the Zombie Eyes

I just don't know...I have tagged another member, she will likely be on in the morning, let's see what she thinks.
It's very interesting that both are like that, I would say it's pus in the eyes, but it's not quite like I have seen before.

You mention she will eat a few pieces of food - can she see at all?
I would try to get her hydrated for sure if she's not drinking on her own. Maybe hold a cup of water to her beak and see if she will drink. Otherwise, syringing or tubing fluids into her would be the next step.

 

[Eggcessive]

It just looks like white coating over the eye which may be pus or scar tissue from an injury or infection, hard to know on a new bird. I am not an expert in chicken eye or a vet, but that looks like it has been there for awhile. Getting chickens off Craigslist and from unknown breeders is risky, and many people wind up with sick birds or ones that don’t lay eggs. If both eyes are white and she is blind, she may have a difficult time making it in a flock, finding food and water in a new environment. It makes me so mad when other people sell someone a bird like this without telling them.

 

[Lifespeechy]

Well I am confident that this has developed in the last 48hrs; I do not blame the seller. I am however concerned about spreading in the flock if it's an illness, hence ... lol the hen is doing social distancing in the quarantine dog kennel. I have ordered animal eye antibiotics and educated myself about removing eye pus in chickens. Think the eggs should be tossed for now too?

 

[Eggcessive]

The eggs should be tossed when she is on antibiotics for a specific period of time. Her eyes do not appear puffy as do the eyes of a chicken with pus or a sinus infection. That is why I felt the white eyes were already there. I am not putting the seller down, but it just looks like something that is not new. This picture off the internet is a white film over the eye from infection, but note that there is swelling around an eye:

Here are some videos of eye infections, and getting pus out—they are very graphic:

 

[Lifespeechy]

Oh my... thank you. I won't mess with her until I'm applying the antibiotics I think. Thank you for your help and info.

 

[Eggcessive]

Terramycin antibiotic eye ointment is usually available at many feed stores if you ask for it, except in California. I have used a clean tube of topical plain Neosporin or Triple Antibiotic Ointment in a pinch, but eye ointments are preferred. Most eye drops and ointments are only available with a vet prescription from a vet or on Chewy.com with a prescritpion.

 

[Lifespeechy]

Yes! I got terramycin off Amazon, and with prime it may be home before I am!! I really appreciate your help.