One eye closed and lethargic 4 week Australorp

[The Witch Coop]

Hello, first time chicken owner with and issue I can't figure out.
I have a 4 week old Australorp that is keeping one eye closed and is lethargic. She gets up and moves about, drinks, and eats, but not nearly as actively as she was 2 days ago, and is keeping her head down more, and feathers a bit ruffled. She's happy to let me hold her, and gets up when I open the brooder. But mostly wants to sleep on the heating pad.
I noticed the issue yesterday morning, and it seems mostly the same for about 36 hours now.
I have 3 girls and watch them a lot, and have not noticed any pecking, and they really seem to all get along, cuddle with each other do whatever the others are doing. In fact, I separated her for observation in case she has something contagious, but she was so distressed, that after she pooped a few times, so I could also be certain of her poops (which from what I can tell are fine and normal), I put her back with her buddies. If there was a sign of any discharge, blood in the stool (I really looked and fished around and saw no parasites or blood) or anything else, or if you think I should absolutely separate her again, I will.
There are no symptoms of any discharge, and I can't see anything stuck in or around the eye. There are no signs of injury, and it doesn't look swollen. It is just one eye that she is keeping closed, and she mostly just wants to sleep.
The other two are perfectly fine. If anything, they seem supportive. This is particularly sad, because she's been kind of the leader of the 3, and the most calm and friendly bird.
I would think that she just has something in her eye, but the lethargy says otherwise. But, would a chicken act like this (lethargic and ruffled) if they their eye was bothering them only? I feel at a loss. With that said, I'll try flushing it with saline. Is there an over-the-counter ointment I should try for her eye? Any suggestions for compresses?
They have been kept inside the house, in their brooder, which gets it's bedding of pine shavings and wood chips changed nearly every day. They have had a few days when it has been warm that they have been outside for a few hours at a time, but the last time that happened was Friday. They have definitely eaten all sorts of bugs and greenery already. It is now Monday. They have chick grit, two sources of water (horizontal nipples and a bowl), and they eat Scratch & Peck Organic Starter.
Please let me know what to do.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

lethargic and ruffled...mostly wants to sleep on the heating pad.

Can you post a photo of her poop?

I would try flushing the eye with saline. You can use plain neosporin or an eye ointment like Terramycin in the eye.

The lethargy, ruffling and wanting heat - I would lean toward Coccidiosis. Not all strains of Coccidia present as blood in the stool.
Do you have Corid on hand?

The only other thing - is her crop empty in the morning before she has had anything to eat/drink?

 

[The Witch Coop]

@Wyorp Rock thank you for your reply.
From my limited experience I would say that it seems quite light colored and dry?

I have eye drops with Tetrahydrozoline HCI 0.05%
and
Opti-Free Replenish
are either of those ok?

Her eye does seem worse today. So, I put plain Neosporin on her eye, which doesn't seem like a great thing to do, but lots of folks on here seem to recommend it for eye problems.

Now, I've noticed that she is not eating as much, and since she seems to be out of it, and the other two are quite active and flapping about, I separated her.

I just got Corid 20% Soluble Powder. She doesn't seem to be drinking much water now too, I'd rather be able to just give it to her. I have a dropper and a oral meds syringe, but I have no idea how much of the Corid to use to give it to her that way. The package says 4 oz to 50 gallons and I'm trying to make a shot glass...what is that like a pinch?

I will post a pick of her droppings when she goes. I separated her an hour ago, and

This is awful.

 

[Skyleen13]

@Wyorp Rock thank you for your reply.
From my limited experience I would say that it seems quite light colored and dry?

I have eye drops with Tetrahydrozoline HCI 0.05%
and
Opti-Free Replenish
are either of those ok?

Her eye does seem worse today. So, I put plain Neosporin on her eye, which doesn't seem like a great thing to do, but lots of folks on here seem to recommend it for eye problems.

Now, I've noticed that she is not eating as much, and since she seems to be out of it, and the other two are quite active and flapping about, I separated her.

I just got Corid 20% Soluble Powder. She doesn't seem to be drinking much water now too, I'd rather be able to just give it to her. I have a dropper and a oral meds syringe, but I have no idea how much of the Corid to use to give it to her that way. The package says 4 oz to 50 gallons and I'm trying to make a shot glass...what is that like a pinch?

I will post a pick of her droppings when she goes. I separated her an hour ago, and

This is awful.

You can also try giving her some save a chick. You mix it into their water. It’s like a Gatorade. Helps give them a little boost. Or you can mix a little honey into warm water & give it to her via a dropper. Will help perk her back up. Get her drinking & eating again.

 

[The Witch Coop]

@Wyorp Rock thank you so much for your reply.

I ended up going to the vet, and it was totally worth it.

For those who have similar issues, this is what happened.

She has an eye infection, most likely due to a peck, claw, or foreign object. She was in a lot of pain and couldn't see out of the right side of her head, which made her lethargic and lost her appetite, and basically acted like she wanted to die.

This is what she was given:
Pain management injection (which perked her right up, and she was eating great within 20 minutes.)
Ciprofloxacin 0.3%
Tylosin Powder
(antibiotics both in the form of eye drops and oral)

She came home a different bird. Totally perked up and eating, scratching, all the chicken things.

I bought her for $4 and just paid over $200 to save her, and hopefully her vision. To me, it is worth it. I really believe that she would have likely died from this. Can you imagine dying from an eye infection and starvation...let's not.

The knowledge from a trained vet is really the best part. Just knowing that she doesn't have a contagious thing makes a world of difference. Knowing that she doesn't have a virus or a systemic illness, mean the main focus is to get her eye better. I don't have to worry about her vent, or getting the other girls sick, or heat, or whatever. It's totally worth it.

Will keep y'all posted.

 

[Skyleen13]

I’m glad she’s doing better! Hopefully she’s a good little patient & takes her meds without a fight.

 

[The Witch Coop]

I’m glad she’s doing better! Hopefully she’s a good little patient & takes her meds without a fight.

Thank you! So far, so good! I hate to pick favorites, but from the get go, she was the calmest, most friendly bird, seems to genuinely enjoy being held and pet. Just a few days after getting her, I was like, "am I seriously going to have a black chicken following me around for the next several years or so?" I hope so.
Hope she pulls through!

 

[Eggcessive]

So glad that you saw a vet and got the Cipro drops and Tylan. Hopefully, she will indeed be running after you for years. Make sure that she is drinking plenty while her eye is swollen shut. Let us know how she fpgets along.

For what it is worth Corid dosage is 1.5 tsp of the power or 10 ml (2 tsp) of the liquid per gallon of water for 5-7 days. Then, you may also reduce the dosage to 1/4 that amount, and give for 5 more days. Tetrahydrozaline or Visine that “gets the red out,” is not a good thing to give a chick with a sore eye. The lubricant drops or antibiotic ointment would be better.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Glad to hear she's doing better!

 

[The Witch Coop]

So glad that you saw a vet and got the Cipro drops and Tylan. Hopefully, she will indeed be running after you for years. Make sure that she is drinking plenty while her eye is swollen shut. Let us know how she fpgets along.

For what it is worth Corid dosage is 1.5 tsp of the power or 10 ml (2 tsp) of the liquid per gallon of water for 5-7 days. Then, you may also reduce the dosage to 1/4 that amount, and give for 5 more days. Tetrahydrozaline or Visine that “gets the red out,” is not a good thing to give a chick with a sore eye. The lubricant drops or antibiotic ointment would be better.

Thank you for your informative response! The vet recommended no Corid for now, since, Cocci is not the problem. But, I'm glad I have it on hand now, if it comes up in the future.
I'm managing to hold her every few hours and can get her to drink the medicated water from my hand to make sure she's getting it in her. I just hold my hand so her beak tip rests in in the cracks between my fingers and use an eye dropper to make a little stream.
She is mostly the same today though. Her eye is swollen and she is very unhappy and losing weight. It's very sad. I wish I could do more. She seems extra sad to not be with the other two, but they are so active, I worry she will get run over or have a difficult time at the feeder.
I put her with them at night to sleep together, but during the day, there's just too much commotion. I hope I'm doing the right things.