Polish chicken with crusty eyes! (Not the biggest emergency)

[Hen Pen Jem]

Sydney,

Eyes are so vulnerable because they are moist.

There are many things that could be causing the eyes to be crusty. It could be anything, from bacterial to viral, to parasitic conditions. If you take her to a Vet, they will do better at diagnosing the cause. But, if you can't do that right now - all you can do is go over the suggestions made here on BYC, and then, just try to make decision.

Personally, I like to go with a conservative approach first, and treat the symptoms. If there is no improvement in 2-3 days, then I examine the hen again. I'll look to see if there are any new symptoms. Or, maybe there is something I didn't see, smell, or hear, the first time. Sometimes, you have to use the process of elimination.

If the irritation is caused by bacteria, TERRAMYCIN OPHTHALMIC OINTMENT, will take care of it. You should be able to buy some at a feed or farm store. (Good thing your not in California, it now requires a prescription here!)

I hear your frustration; I can tell you really want to help your little girl.

There is a lot of experience here on BYC. The members will try to offer possibilities.

Hope this helps.

 

[Sydnee Fisher]

It also smells kind of bad but again I forgot a picture...

 

[Sydnee Fisher]

Sydney,

Eyes are so vulnerable because they are moist.

There are many things that could be causing the eyes to be crusty. It could be anything, from bacterial to viral, to parasitic conditions. If you take her to a Vet, they will do better at diagnosing the cause. But, if you can't do that right now - all you can do is go over the suggestions made here on BYC, and then, just try to make decision.

Personally, I like to go with a conservative approach first, and treat the symptoms. If there is no improvement in 2-3 days, then I examine the hen again. I'll look to see if there are any new symptoms. Or, maybe there is something I didn't see, smell, or hear, the first time. Sometimes, you have to use the process of elimination.

If the irritation is caused by bacteria, TERRAMYCIN OPHTHALMIC OINTMENT, will take care of it. You should be able to buy some at a feed or farm store. (Good thing your not in California, it now requires a prescription here!)

I hear your frustration; I can tell you really want to help your little girl.

There is a lot of experience here on BYC. The members will try to offer possibilities.

Hope this helps.

We have the ointment you are talking about but I was wondering it I should remove the crusty stuff before applying it. Oh, and I wanted you to know that it does infact has an odor that I noticed...

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Hello Sydnee,

Yes, I would use a warm moist wash cloth, and gently pat the eyes to soften the crusty stuff.

Be prepared for the hen to get upset, wrap her in a towel like a burrito. Then, place her on your lap so you can clean her eyes.

You may need to take occassional breaks, you don't want to over stress her. Stroke her wattles and cheek, and talk softly to her till she calms down. Then, try again.

Don't expect to get all the crust off the first time. It will take several cleanings to get it off. Most will come off on it's own.

Next, apply the Terramycin Ophthalmic ointment carefully, to the lower lid. When she blinks it will spread over the entire eye. Don't touch the tip of the ointment to the eye, you don't want to contaminate the tip. And you don't want to poke her eye.

Apply twice a day. Give it a few days to see if there is improvement.

Also, if you notice any discharge from her nostrils, sneezing or chest congestion, it could be as Eggcessive suggested...a respiratory infection.

I hope this helps.

God Bless you and your little hen.

 

[Eggcessive]

A bad odor can indicate infectious coryza, another respiratory disease that also can cause eye swelling, drainage, even pus in eyes, and it is a chronic disease. MG can be less severe than coryza. Symptoms can last for weeks or months. Yes, it is good to remove any gunk or crust in and around eyes before applying an eye ointment or drop.

 

[Sydnee Fisher]

A bad odor can indicate infectious coryza, another respiratory disease that also can cause eye swelling, drainage, even pus in eyes, and it is a chronic disease. MG can be less severe than coryza. Symptoms can last for weeks or months. Yes, it is good to remove any gunk or crust in and around eyes before applying an eye ointment or drop.

I have been treating with the oitment and a lot of the crust has come off I will try to get a photo when I go out at 5:30. I can’t smell any grossness anymore and would she look like she’s cold all the time from respiratory infection?

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Is she fluffed up? She may indeed have an upper respiratory infection. Have you noticed any other symptoms, sneezing, discharge from nostrils, chest congestion, swelling under eyes?

Is she eating, drinking and pooping well?

If she is sick with a respiratory infection, yes, she could feel cold.

 

[Sydnee Fisher]

Is she fluffed up? She may indeed have an upper respiratory infection. Have you noticed any other symptoms, sneezing, discharge from nostrils, chest congestion, swelling under eyes?

Is she eating, drinking and pooping well?

If she is sick with a respiratory infection, yes, she could feel cold.

She looks like she’s cold but so other symptoms than that and her crusty eyes which all almost all gone have cleaned up a lot!

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

It seems she is responding to your treatment.

Now, examine her again.

• Is her crop emptying each night?
• Look under her feet, make sure there are no sores or cuts.
• Feel under her belly, check for blisters or swelling.
• Listen to her breathing, do you hear any rattle noise.
• Look at her nostrils, any discharge coming out?

If all these things seem OK, she should recover just fine.

Provide her with good supportive care during her recovery:

Feed her some cooked meat protein or cooked eggs, diced fruit, diced black or red grapes, fresh greens, cooked grains like: brown rice, wheat berries, oat groats, pearl barley, also some toast with butter is good. Always offer her moist feed daily.

She should have soft foods while healing. This diet is also good for chickens if that have crop problems. Something you may encounter in the future.

If you have probiotics, give her some. Also, some poultry vitamins. Follow the product instructions.

Clean fresh water daily. I like to add some echinacea tea or aloe vera, to boost the immune system.

If it is really cold where you live, you can provide a little heat for her at night. Make sure she can move away from the warmth, if she wants to. She may only need warmth for a couple of nights. Keep her out of drafts and windy conditions till she is fully recovered.

These are my thoughts...I hope they are helpful.

God Bless!

 

[Sydnee Fisher]

It seems she is responding to your treatment.

Now, examine her again.

• Is her crop emptying each night?
• Look under her feet, make sure there are no sores or cuts.
• Feel under her belly, check for blisters or swelling.
• Listen to her breathing, do you hear any rattle noise.
• Look at her nostrils, any discharge coming out?

If all these things seem OK, she should recover just fine.

Provide her with good supportive care during her recovery:

Feed her some cooked meat protein or cooked eggs, diced fruit, diced black or red grapes, fresh greens, cooked grains like: brown rice, wheat berries, oat groats, pearl barley, also some toast with butter is good. Always offer her moist feed daily.

She should have soft foods while healing. This diet is also good for chickens if that have crop problems. Something you may encounter in the future.

If you have probiotics, give her some. Also, some poultry vitamins. Follow the product instructions.

Clean fresh water daily. I like to add some echinacea tea or aloe vera, to boost the immune system.

If it is really cold where you live, you can provide a little heat for her at night. Make sure she can move away from the warmth, if she wants to. She may only need warmth for a couple of nights. Keep her out of drafts and windy conditions till she is fully recovered.

These are my thoughts...I hope they are helpful.

God Bless!

Do you guys
Very helpful thank you! She doesn’t seem to have any of those and the crust on her eyes is totally gone! Sometimes she will look cold just cause it’s cold out but she doesn’t seem to do when not necessary.