Red inflamed skin around chickens eyes

[SHolden]

I have a pullet who has red irritated looking skin around her eyes. Eyes are not bright and look filmy at times. No pus though. No obvious respiratory signs, good appetite, drinking well, poops are normal but she seems lethargic, and sits with eyes closed frequently. I had her on some antibiotics and it cleared up, but returned about 2 weeks later. I had thought it was pink eye, but now wondering if it’s eye worm as the flies have been awful here.

 

[DobieLover]

I have a pullet who has red irritated looking skin around her eyes. Eyes are not bright and look filmy at times. No pus though. No obvious respiratory signs, good appetite, drinking well, poops are normal but she seems lethargic, and sits with eyes closed frequently. I had her on some antibiotics and it cleared up, but returned about 2 weeks later. I had thought it was pink eye, but now wondering if it’s eye worm as the flies have been awful here.

Can you please post pictures of her?

 

[SHolden]

 

[Eggcessive]

What is your location? Has she been scratching at her eyes if you spend some time with her? What antibiotic did you use, and was it an eye drop, ointment or oral antibiotic?

 

[SHolden]

Hi I had her on Tylan 50 for 5 days in her water. i am in Manitoba, Canada, it’s been hot and dry, but she is in a run that is covered and shaded. The base stays dry and pea gravel.
I had been mixing peat moss in their dust bath and thought perhaps she was having a reaction to that as it flared up shortly after I filled up the bath with fresh dusting mixture. She rubs her beak on the ground, but not much more than the others do and it’s usually after eating something like watermelon. I was contemplating putting colloidal silver drops in her eyes to see if that works. She is not as lethargic this go around, and so far is not keeping her eyes shut this time yet either.

 

[EmilyThrom]

Did you ever figure anything out for your chicken? Mine has the exact same symptoms. I might just take her to the vet.

 

[EmilyThrom]

Not to hijack, but here she is.

 

[Eggcessive]

Welcome to BYC @EmilyThrom . You may want to start a new thread of your own for more looks and advice. Does your hen have any head shaking, congestion, bubbles in the eye, or sneezing? A swollen eyelid can be a sign of mycoplasma (MG) or coryza. MG is fairly common in some backyard flocks. Whether or not it is a respiratory disease, I would flush her eye with some saline eye wash or drops, and apply some Terramycin antibiotic eye ointment that some feed stores carry. I have used plain Neosporin ointment in a pinch.

 

[EmilyThrom]

Welcome to BYC @EmilyThrom . You may want to start a new thread of your own for more looks and advice. Does your hen have any head shaking, congestion, bubbles in the eye, or sneezing? A swollen eyelid can be a sign of mycoplasma (MG) or coryza. MG is fairly common in some backyard flocks. Whether or not it is a respiratory disease, I would flush her eye with some saline eye wash or drops, and apply some Terramycin antibiotic eye ointment that some feed stores carry. I have used plain Neosporin ointment in a pinch.

Thank you! None of the above symptoms -- she just sits with her eye closed. I will flush it out and head to the feed store for antibiotic ointment. I appreciate it as I was looking at a week-long wait and $160 fee to get her seen by an avian vet. Hopefully I can make some progress in the right direction - otherwise I will start a new thread

Emily