Lethargic chickens with eye closed

[MysteryChik]

I recently (probably 2 weeks ago) gave a hen with her two chicks to a friend that lives out of state. I got the following message from him, and wanted to see if you all could help... I've never had this happen with any of my chickens so wasn't sure. "
Quick question, momma hen and two babies; baby #1 let's call her started walking around w/one eye closed and was tripping and stumbling. I ignored it b/c thought a hen might have pecked her. Well now both eyes are kept closed and I walked right up to her and picked her up. We both know that's crazy as they are skiddish still. Well baby#2 has one eye closed now and both are kind of lethargic. It is almost 7 when all go in the hen house so hard to tell if really lethargic. But baby #1 is most definitely almost blind bc she barely opened her eyes. Momma seems lethargic too but again it's late...just curious to know if you've ever experienced something like this? Momma is closing her eyes whereas she's usually bushy tail and righted eyed all day. Thoughts?? I'm worried

"

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Does your friend have other chickens? I would guess they picked up some illness as eyes closed means a very sick chicken.

 

[MysteryChik]

yes, he did have others. We gave them to him, bc something got in his coop a few months ago, and devoured all of his. He didnt have the money for more so we "donated" them to him.

 

[MysteryChik]

Does your friend have other chickens? I would guess they picked up some illness as eyes closed means a very sick chicken.

yes, he did have others. We gave them to him, bc something got in his coop a few months ago, and devoured all but a few of his. He didnt have the money for more so we "donated" them to him.

 

[MysteryChik]

Does your friend have other chickens? I would guess they picked up some illness as eyes closed means a very sick chicken.

What do you mean a very sick chicken? You think they may have picked up something from his I am assuming, they were fine when they were here. He didn't mention any of his others being sick, or the other 2 hens I gave him. Just the one with the baby chicks.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Generally a sick chicken will sit still all hunched up with their eyes closed. So more symptoms would be needed to try to pinpoint what might be wrong. Since they are all sick I assume they picked up something at the new place they haven't had and wouldn't be immune to. Being moved to a new home is stressful, and stressed birds often have decreased immune systems.

 

[MysteryChik]

Generally a sick chicken will sit still all hunched up with their eyes closed. So more symptoms would be needed to try to pinpoint what might be wrong. Since they are all sick I assume they picked up something at the new place they haven't had and wouldn't be immune to. Being moved to a new home is stressful, and stressed birds often have decreased immune systems.

Thanks, I just got this message and asked him several questions to try to find out what could be causing this, but haven't heard back from him since. He didn't say anything about being hunched up or sitting weird.. just "lethargic" and the eyes. I think when he says Lethargic, he means not running away from him as much as they were before.. or slower...

 

[JuliaOlivia]

Are they okay besides the eyes

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Thanks, I just got this message and asked him several questions to try to find out what could be causing this, but haven't heard back from him since. He didn't say anything about being hunched up or sitting weird.. just "lethargic" and the eyes. I think when he says Lethargic, he means not running away from him as much as they were before.. or slower...

Sorry, I thought I read fluffed up, my mistake.

 

[MysteryChik]

Are they okay besides the eyes

all I know so far is the information I quoted in the first post on this thread. that was the message quoted from him :/