Our Silkie keeping eyes closed

[vgl42]

Hi everyone,

The last few days, our silkie, Suzie, started keeping her right eye closed. We were monitoring her, and she seemed healthy otherwise, but she was being bullied by another chicken so we thought she may have injured it somehow, perhaps by getting pecked. Examination didn't show any damage.

Yesterday, we saw her turning her head sideways, in what looked like an effort to see better. We brought her inside and kept her warm overnight. Again, she seemed normal otherwise.

Today, she is keeping her other eye closed and seems a bit disoriented. She tries to peck at food, but misses, probably because of sight issues. I don't hear wheezing, or see discharge from the eyes.

We are very worried and don't know where to start.

I read a lot the last couple of days about potential causes, but couldn't narrow it down. I've read about potential respiratory issues, and to administer antibiotics, but I have called around and no feed stores carry them and they say only a vet can prescribe.

Any help would be greatly appreciated to help Suzie.

Thanks.

 

[Eggcessive]

Some things like dust, mold, or an ammonia odor in the coop can cause eye irritation, leading to conjunctivitis or infections. You might want to get some saline eye drops at a drug store to irrigate her eye a few times a day while you gently open her eyes. A lubricating eye drop would work as well.

 

[vgl42]

OK, thank you for your reply. I will try to get some drops this morning. I have some polysporin pink eye drops. Can they be given to chickens?

She looks pretty slow this morning, but perhaps she is having a hard time seeing.

 

[Eggcessive]

Yes, Polysporin would be good to use. Watch her for any new symptoms that could point more to a respiratory infection, such as foam in eyes or swelling around one eye or the face, sneezing,wheezing, or gasping. Pink eye or conjunctivitis can be an eearly sign. Antibiotics such as tylosin (Tylan) or oxytetracycline are used for mycoplasma (MG) and other respiratory infections.

 

[vgl42]

Still no swelling or wheezing. She seems a little bit better, but definitely not 100%. Just put a drop of the polysporin into her right eye. She didnt like it, but was ok afterwards.

It appears that the only way for me to get Tylan is through a vet. I will be in upstate NY next weekend, and will pop into a tractor Supply because it looks like they carry it. I just hope she's better by then.

Will post a followup shortly.

Thank you very much for your help

 

[Eggcessive]

Tylan 50 injectable is the one you want. It is cheaper than Tylan 200, but if all you find is the 200, go ahead and get it. Tractor Supply here only seems to carry the 200, but after checking online, they say they stock it. Tylan 50 is 50mg per ml while Tylan 200 is 200 mg per ml or 4 times as strong. For chickens most use Tylan 50 at 0.2 ml per pound of weight. For a very sick bird you could give as much as 0.4 ml per pound. I recommend giving injectable Tylan orally to bantams.

 

[vgl42]

Thank you so much for the dosage information.

She's not doing so great since yesterday. She is very lethargic and mostly keeps both eyes closed. She does occasionally get to the food and water and eats, but overall, she is slower than normal.

I'm hoping she'll make it to Monday . I'm going to the US this weekend and won't be back until then. Hopefully I can pick up some Tylan and she'll be OK through the weekend.

Wondering if there's anything that I can do until then..if it's a respiratory issue.

Also, when you say orally,, the dose is the same, just feed into mouth?

Thanks again for the help.

 

[Cheryl Martin]

I'm following this thread closely for any ideas I might be able to use. I recently got a barred rock (grown, but with unknown history) who doesn't open her eyes.She shows some of the same symptoms as yours where she turns her head like she is listening. But can't find food easily, just pecks at the ground close to the food bowl. I think she was starving when I got her. Very weak and didn't move at all. Looked like she was sleeping all the time. Now she is inside and I hand feed her wet food and water to make sure she is eating enough. She was very weak at first but since I have been basically putting the food in her face, she is eating very well now and has perked up. But, she still won't open her eyes. So you may have to be intentional about making sure she eats.