Squinting hen?

[shandiane78]

I have a hen (my favorite of course) who keeps squinting or closing one of her eyes. Is this a bad sign?! I don't see any discharge from her nose or anything like that...

Thanks,
Shannon

 

[shandiane78]

Still worried about her. She is keeping one eye closed most of the time now. Also, while she is standing she will close both eyes, and almost looks like she's going to sleep on her feet...Aside from these two things, she's acting normally, eating, moving around fine. *edit* Just observed her for a while again. She is sitting down and going to sleep in strange places and at strange times. She seems very sleepy. I'm worried about her!

I did notice that one of the other hens is sneezing. Should I be worried about coryza?

Thanks,
Shannon

*edit* adding some pics

This is the side she's keeping open more:

This is the side she's keeping shut:

And here she is falling asleep on her feet. She's been doing this a lot today:

 

[shandiane78]

Sorry my pics were so big. I just resized.

 

[purpletree23]

They have a respiratory infection. Get water soluble Tylan. It is a broad spectrum antibiotic. If you can't find it in your local feed stores you can get it online at firststatevetsupply.com The dosage is 1/2 teaspoon powder to 1/2 gallon water. Make new solution every day and give for 7 days. Make sure the medicated water is the only water they have so they can ingest the medicine.

start ASAP so you don't loose any.

 

[Year of the Rooster]

Are you positive that it's a respiratory infection? My silkie rooster does the same thing. If I pick him up, he'll close one eye, completely. There is no smell coming from his mouth, no discharge, and no wheezing. He is 11 months and has been doing this since I can remember... I haven't lost any birds either

 

[purpletree23]

Sleepy and sneezing and closed or half closed eyes are classic symptoms of respiratory problems. If they had corzya they would have a foul smell coming from their noses. If you want to wait on the medication that would be OK but I would find it anyway just to have.

I keep a Chicken First Aid kit ready in case of an emergency or illness. It has neosporin, bandages, blood stop powder, screw worm spray (for maggot infested wounds) saline solution for contact lens wearers (to flush out eyes) and other things because chickens and kids get sick on the weekends, at night or on holidays.

At least flush out their eyes with some contact lens solution and a saturated cotton ball to gently wipe their eyes. If it foams don't be alarmed because it is killing germs. I would give them vitamins (Poly Vi Sol infant vitamins WITHOUT IRON) available at CVS. One drop i nthe beak in the morning and one at night per bird. Also up their nutrition by including chopped greens and maybe some fruits and vegetables. They are definately not feeling well.

If other symptoms appear let us know and someone will help out. A really good bunch of people on here.

 

[Year of the Rooster]

Sorry for stealing your thread shandiane78.

Purpletree, my Silkie roo acts very healthy otherwise. Would you still recommend treating it? At one time I remember it being bubbly, but now it has cleared up. He still closes it. The other day when I re-introduced my Sebright rooster (he was at the county fair), my Silkie put up a good fight against him. I wasn't expecting him to win but he did fairly well, so he is obviously healthy. None were hurt in the fight, just a few feathers lost. It was just a pecking order thing. Should I still treat for it or could he have possibly recovered from it on his own?

 

[shandiane78]

purpletree, thank you so much for the info. If I become 100% convinced she needs antibiotics, I will proceed with what you recommended. In fact, I'll probably order that medicine to have on hand in either case.

Year of the Rooster, she has been keeping her eye closed almost all day. She only opens it in moments of excitement or stimulation. I've been very close to her and haven't smelled anything, but I haven't exactly sniffed her face either...None of them appear to have discharge.

The only explanation I can think of other than sickness is that maybe another hen pecked her eye at bed time, and maybe that injured her and prevented her from getting a good night's sleep (which would explain the sleepiness)? Seems pretty far fetched, I know. I guess I don't want to believe she's sick. That said, I'm maybe 85% certain she is.

The kids and I picked blueberries today, so the hens got some of those. They also eat a lot of grass from their yard. I'll definitely try to give them more fresh healthy fruits and greens tomorrow. Is there any way to tell a virus vs. bacterial infection? (I'm thinking probably not - It's hard enough in humans and I know them much better than chickens!) I'm hoping to avoid the antibiotics, of course, but it feels good to have a plan just in case.

Thanks again,
Shannon

 

[Year of the Rooster]

Quote:
Ok, then its possible that it may be an infection. My rooster keeps his open all the time, but whenever I hold him, that's when he closes it.

 

[purpletree23]

year of the rooster

It sounds like your bird had a respiratory problem but got over it by himself. Another symptom of the respiratory disease is foaming eyes. If a hen or rooster is walking around with a closed eye or half closed eye I would say they have resp disease. If you have a rooster who is normal when walking around but closes his eyes when you pick him up that sounds like a quirky habit of the rooster.