Sick chick wont open eye

[mylesgeorge]

I need some help. I have a 2-3 week old chick that wont open its eye. Her other eye looks fine. She seems lethargic as well. I tried to open the eye and it looks kinda swollen (the red stuff behind the eye...kinda like when my cat had conjunctivitis). Its not goopy on the outside. I removed a small foreign object from her eye but that doesnt seem to have helped her. I removed her from the other chicks for now and I noticed her body seems really warm compared to the other chicks. So I am wondering if something else is going on. She has been sleeping in a towel for the past 45 minutes and only opened her eye once or twice. I am going to mix up some electrolytes and give her some of that. Is there anything else I could do?

 

[MrsBrooke]

A picture of the eye would help very much.

Was the chick born this way? Did it suddenly develop these eye symptoms overnight?

What is the temp in your brooder? For 2-3 day old chicks, it should be in the 90-95 range.

MrsB

 

[BenC in QC]

Debris in her eye could be the culprit, could also be a secondary symptom of her not feeling well and unmotivated to remove the debris.

Would start with irrigating the eye with a water flush and then maybe add a topical antibiotic, VetRX is also a good first step as it may help her feel better, plus if she happens to have eye worms VetRX can help control those symptoms.

If it is eye worms, you'll need to worm her with Valbezen (sp?) at some point.

Could also be Marek's, you'd have to examine her eye for signs of lesions, but not real likely.

In any case, also add a good vitamin supplement to her water, I like to add some extra vitamin C crushed up and dissolved, 1,000mg per quart (one crushed up pill usually, unflavored), seems to really help bring them around.

Any signs of wheezing/gurgling or sniffling?

 

[mylesgeorge]

Here is her eye. I dont see any goop or crust at all. I havent noticed any signs of wheezing or gurgling. How would I know if it was eye worms (that sounds horrible by the way!) She is still resting but when I went to take the picture she lifted her head and looked at me with her good eye. Ive been giving her probiotic chick save with a syringe so maybe thats helping perk her up a bit?

EDIT TO ADD: I mean electrolyte chick save not probiotic

 

[BenC in QC]

Poor Chicky... How's her poop, normal, loose, none? Could very well be a tummy problem and the eye is secondary, but at this point I'd be thinking real serious about worming her in case it is eye worms, plus the wormer will take care of any other parasites in her body.

Might also add corid to her water. Tummy problems are very common in chicks, which is why they make medicated crumble feed. If she's got microbes in her tummy, she'll become lethargic as well, and with no respiratory symptoms the tummy is the next place to look. The corid liquid is mixed 5cc/gal of water.

But I'd personally still worm her, and the other chicks as well as they've been exposed, and if there's any sign of loose poop get them on corid as well.

 

[MrsBrooke]

Here is her eye. I dont see any goop or crust at all. I havent noticed any signs of wheezing or gurgling. How would I know if it was eye worms (that sounds horrible by the way!) She is still resting but when I went to take the picture she lifted her head and looked at me with her good eye. Ive been giving her probiotic chick save with a syringe so maybe thats helping perk her up a bit?

EDIT TO ADD: I mean electrolyte chick save not probiotic

Truly, I doubt it is eyeworm... They get that through eating Surinam cockroaches, so I doubt your chick has been exposed to that.

X2 on the eye flush with warm saline water. There is such a thing as Vetericyn eye drops that could help with an infection.

Where did you get the chicks? Do you have any idea if they were vaccinated for Marek's?

Make sure whatever vitamins you give your chick have NO iron in it!

Any other chicks acting poorly?

MrsB

 

[mylesgeorge]

No cockroaches here, so definitely not eye worms! All of the other chicks are doing great! My sister in law ordered them from a local feed store for me (along with hers) I think she said they were originally from Hoovers? They were vaccinated, for what I dont know. This is my first time having chicks, I do have adult chickens, but got them as 14 week old pullets so this is all new to me! So far Ive only given her the chick save electrolytes. Where would I get an eye ointment? We dont have farm/avian vets around here.

 

[MrsBrooke]

The more I'm hearing, the more it sounds like an eye infection/debris that hasn't cleared.

Vetericyn eye drops are available at most local feed stores and Tractor Supply. I'm trying to post a picture of the bottle, but the site won't let me. :/

I'd would also HIGHLY recommend picking up a packet of Corid (amprolium) 20% powder... The one for livestock and goats and such. It's a shiny foil package.

Coccidiosis is one of the most common and potentially devastating diseases that young chicks can get. The prime age for it 2-3 weeks, and it is MUCH better to have Corid and not need it than to need it and be in a panic trying to find some. It spreads via skin, clothes, hair, shoes, equipment, other birds, wild birds, etc... Every backyard chicken keeper will probably have to deal with Cocci at some point in their experiences.

You'll start to see lethargic, hunched chicks, runny poops, and maybe bloody poops. It is highly infectious and can kill your entire brood in a few days without treatment.

Corid is a really gentle medication that you should run through ALL the waterers for chicks and adults every once in a while as a preventative. There is no withdrawal time, so no need to discard eggs (if you have any old enough to start laying).

Chicks younger than eight weeks or so really shouldn't be bothered by worms... That comes later, unfortunately! I start worming my chickens ~6 months of age before they moult and when the weather starts to warm up during the Spring.

MrsB

 

[BenC in QC]

Hi MrsB, I know that cockroaches are transmitters, because the worms hitchhike on them, but thought the worms existed in the environment independent of the bugs? Hadn't heard where the bird has to eat the each to possibly become infected? Good info.

 

[mylesgeorge]

Thank You so much! I am having my husband stop at tractor supply on his way home to pick up this stuff! Hopefully it will help. Thank you so much for your help!