Hen with a swollen eye (with photo)

[Juliettel]

Hello all,

My hen has a swollen eyelid. I didn’t see anything stuck in her eye and I’m wondering if anybody knows what could be the cause —I’m hoping it is not related to a respiratory infection.

She’s been healthy and is about four years old.

She is acting normally, the only change in her is the swollen eye. Only one eye is affected.

Thanks!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Welcome To BYC!

Have you added any new birds to your flock recently?

Swelling of the eye can be from a number of things - from getting a peck/injury to the eye, debris in the eye to something more serious like infection from respiratory disease.
Flush the eye with saline, see if there's any debris or pus that needs to be removed or pressed out, then apply an eye ointment like Terramycin. Do this a couple of times a day.

 

[Juliettel]

Welcome To BYC!

Have you added any new birds to your flock recently?

Swelling of the eye can be from a number of things - from getting a peck/injury to the eye, debris in the eye to something more serious like infection from respiratory disease.
Flush the eye with saline, see if there's any debris or pus that needs to be removed or pressed out, then apply an eye ointment like Terramycin. Do this a couple of times a day.

Hello,
Thanks so much for your reply!
Yes, we added chicks to the flock two months ago. Could they have introduced something to the older two hens? They share a coop but are free range during the day. Gloria is the only hen that has a swollen eye.

I will try the saline solution and the ointment — thank you!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hello,
Thanks so much for your reply!
Yes, we added chicks to the flock two months ago. Could they have introduced something to the older two hens? They share a coop but are free range during the day. Gloria is the only hen that has a swollen eye.

I will try the saline solution and the ointment — thank you!

It's possible that the chicks introduced something. I would first check her out for injury/having something stuck in the eye, especially if the chicks have been with the hens for 2 months.