Hen with one eye closed

[Diamondopalmom]

We have an opal legbar hen that just recently started laying eggs (1 week ago). A few days before she laid her first egg she started squinting with one eye and keeping it closed off and on. The eye is dilated and not small and grey like Merricks. Once she laid her egg she opened it like normal. Her egg however had blood streaks on it and it was in the run versus nest. She laid her next egg three days later in the nest and no blood. It has now been 4 days and no egg. She started the eye squint thing shortly after her last egg. She is eating, pooping and otherwise acting normal. She hangs out in the nest but no egg. I can’t tell if the eye looks bulgy or not since with it closed I can see all edges versus the other open one is clear. Any thoughts? We thought maybe egg bound but she is pooping. She can see out of the eye when it’s open as she flinched when I get close to it with my finger. None of our other three chickens are acting like this.

 

[Eggcessive]

Do you have pictures of both eyes? I would apply some Bausch and Lomb Eye Relief eye wash several times a day to see if it helps. Look around inside the eye for any debris or something stuck inside the third eyelid. Is the eyelid swollen or have any drainage or bubbles?

 

[Diamondopalmom]

Pictures are not great because she won’t stay still. It’s her left eye.

 

[Eggcessive]

Do her pupils look round in both eyes, and is the left dilated in the same light as the right? Does she seem to be able to see out of both eyes?

 

[Diamondopalmom]

Do her pupils look round in both eyes, and is the left dilated in the same light as the right? Does she seem to be able to see out of both eyes?

Yes both round just one pupil is bigger. Yes dilated in the same light, though could be because it keeps closing it so doesn’t keep it open long enough to constrict. When I was observing it in the dark nest it was more constricted. Yes she can see out of both eyes.

 

[Diamondopalmom]

Do her pupils look round in both eyes, and is the left dilated in the same light as the right? Does she seem to be able to see out of both eyes?

Here are some new photos. We tried flushing it today with water and put an antibiotic eye ointment. Hoping it looks better tomorrow.

 

[EIEIO Funny Farm]

Here are some new photos. We tried flushing it today with water and put an antibiotic eye ointment. Hoping it looks better tomorrow.

I just came across this thread and didn’t see any updates or comments / advise. What’s the latest on your hens eye?

 

[Myrshine]

Ouch! That looks painful! Looks like to me that she may have been pecked or ulcerated her eye. I’d treat her with Terramycin eye ointment antibiotics and see how she is within a week.