Lethargic POL pullet won’t open her eye

[TwistedTayy]

Yesterday I noticed that my 3 month old 55 flowery pullet wasn’t opening her right eye. I grabbed her and looked closely at it. There is no discharge, it is clear, not swollen and she is alert. And she can open her eye, she just doesn’t. She’s alert to her surroundings but today she seems like she is laying down more than normal and stands with her tail down when at rest. I tried purposely startling the flock she’s with and she got up and moved with everyone. Her vent is clean. I treated the coop 3 weeks ago for mites with elector psp and have had zero evidence of mites on the chickens. Everyone is breathing fine and sunning and bathing themselves. I don’t think it’s coccidiosis but maybe worms? I don’t know the symptoms of that though and I’m skeptical it would present with ophthalmic symptoms at first.

It’s been pretty warm here (zone 7b, Georgia) so I was thinking maybe heat intolerance? I had noticed that the flock wasn’t drinking from their waterer so I changed out the cups on it and they’ve figured out these cups. Anyways I added probiotics and electrolytes to the water in case they’re a little dehydrated.

All the other chickens have no symptoms. It is possible that one hen pecked her and injured her but I feel like there would be swelling or discharge. When should I start to worry?

 

[azygous]

A chicken will keep a sore eye closed because it hurts when it's open, just like humans when we scratch the cornea. The treatment is to flush well with saline eye wash or just use a little bottle of artificial tears to clean the eye out. Do this each day. Then put a little dab of Neosporin or terramycin ointment in it twice a day until it heals.