Question about chick with eye closed, please help

[Fizzmom]

Hi! First timer here with four baby chicks now five days old. They're all eating, drinking, and active. I noticed a couple of hours ago that the Buff Orpington had both her eyes closed (not sleeping.) I very gently wiped them with a soft cotton pad and warm water. She opened one eye but the other is still closed. Some history: I'm worried because our fifth chick--who never was active, wasn't eating or drinking, was distressed from the get-go, and had her eyes closed--died late last night. This little one seems in much, much better shape but I'm worried about her closed eye. I don't want her to follow the same route as the other chick. Any advice welcome.

A bit more info.
--We have them in a warm room and they have a heat lamp, electrolytes in their water, medicated chick feed.

 

[Debbie292d]

Hi! First timer here with four baby chicks now five days old. They're all eating, drinking, and active. I noticed a couple of hours ago that the Buff Orpington had both her eyes closed (not sleeping.) I very gently wiped them with a soft cotton pad and warm water. She opened one eye but the other is still closed. Some history: I'm worried because our fifth chick--who never was active, wasn't eating or drinking, was distressed from the get-go, and had her eyes closed--died late last night. This little one seems in much, much better shape but I'm worried about her closed eye. I don't want her to follow the same route as the other chick. Any advice welcome.

A bit more info.
--We have them in a warm room and they have a heat lamp, electrolytes in their water, medicated chick feed.

Hi,

So sorry for the one you lost. That's always tough!

Do you have a thermometer to check the temperature they're at? Five days old should be at 95F, and shortly to 90F.

What are you using for bedding? Something is irritating this one's eyes. They might be allergic to something in the area of your brooder. Check your heat bulb to make sure it's not teflon coated.

They're getting only their chick crumbles and nothing else, I presume? Try putting some crumbles in a small dish and soaking them with water. They should dive into that.

 

[Fizzmom]

Hi,

So sorry for the one you lost. That's always tough!

Do you have a thermometer to check the temperature they're at? Five days old should be at 95F, and shortly to 90F.

What are you using for bedding? Something is irritating this one's eyes. They might be allergic to something in the area of your brooder. Check your heat bulb to make sure it's not teflon coated.

They're getting only their chick crumbles and nothing else, I presume? Try putting some crumbles in a small dish and soaking them with water. They should dive into that.

Thanks! The sweetie who died was in tough shape from the beginning and she never recovered, despite all of our efforts.
Yes, we've got all of the chick basics covered--temperature, food, paper towel bedding.
I do have an update: I just visited the chick and she had both her eyes closed, even walking around. Again, I gently wiped them with warm water and she opened both her eyes and joined her sisters eating soaked crumble with enthusiasm from my hand.(All of the chicks have been eating well!) Allergies is an interesting idea. Maybe there's something in the paper towels. I'm going to try replacing the standard white towels with more "natural" brown ones and see if that makes a difference. Can't think of anything else that might be causing allergies. Thanks, again.