Pullet with closed eye

[7acres]

I noticed yesterday one of my pullet has one eye closed. She will open it occasionally. I caught her today and separated her from the rest. The eye is not swollen shut. It is swollen around the outside edges. I noticed a small spot on the eye. Looking at the other information on this site I do not think it is infected. I see no drainage and no sneezing. She eats and drinks. I have made a solution of one cup water and a tablespoon of salt. I plan to put drops in her eye later today. I checked with the local F&R and the ointment is very expensive. I have some eye drops and was wondering if it would be o.k. to use them. They are the Top Care brand. it has Tetrahydrozoline HCLl as a redness reliever and Dextran,PEG and Providone as eye lubricants. Do you think this will be o.k. to use.

 

[grayeyes]

i have the same thing happening too a handful of my 5 wk old babies. im taking 2 of the babies to the vet @ 4pm central time and willl post you tomorrow of what it could be. im suspecting eyeworms.

 

[7acres]

Thanks. Interesting.

 

[grayeyes]

ok, just got back from the vet with my chickens. they have conjuctivitis. the salution is eye drops called gentamicin sulfate ophthalmic solution usp. drop 1 drop twice a day for 7 days. hopefully this helps you out. good luck

 

[7acres]

Thanks so much. Is that an over the counter or does it has to be bought from the vet. How much was it? I treated mine with the saline solution. It is not infected. She does try to open it some.

 

[7acres]

Thanks. I looked it up and saw the price and that a prescription is required

 

[grayeyes]

the vet is suppose to be calling today for the non-prescription meds that i can use too help stop the infection from spreading. when my wife gets in tonight i will post the med name and hopefully this will help.
i have 147 chickens and do everything possible too keep them healthy. 3 years now with jersey giants and hate seeing even 1 get sick

 

[7acres]

Good luck with the meds. Let me know how it turned out.

 

[Peaceeagle1]

Glad to see this thread as I was going to start 1 with pretty much the same problem. I have 1 Marans that eye has been swollen shut but it has goop in it. I have been giving her Tylan and putting Gentmycin eye ointmant on it- can't actually get it in the eye because it is so swollen and she resists dramatically . I found an Amercuana today with the same eye thing just starting but she has a runny nose too. Getting the same treatment. And I have 1 that gets his last dose of Tylan today and looks much better. He will be rejoining the flock tonight I think. My other problem is I have another Marans with a cold and a turkey with pneumonia. Turks coughing, sneezing and has wheezes in his lungs. My "sick bay" (crates in my bedroom) is getting really full!. I remember having these same troubles last year about the same time...any ideas why? Oh by the way, the chicks are all around 3 mons old and the turkey is 8 wks old.

 

[7acres]

Being a novice I would hesitate to advise you. From what I have been reading you are on the right track with the medication. It sounds like you have a respiratory infection spreading with your chickens. I think the medication you are giving is correct. I read a lot on the and Blue Laced Red Wyandotte thread and there are some pretty sharp people on it. You might post on it and get a better response. Hope you have good results, but sounds like you need to stay on top of it to avoid a disaster.