Sticky eyes

[whytedragon]

I ordered 20 Silkie chicks from Ideal recently..and one of them keeps having to have it's eyes cleaned to open them. It's like a gooey substance that keeps coming back and sealing it's eyes shut. I clean them with warm water and a q-tip, then put a bit of VetRx on them, and the chick can finally eat and drink again, but it's already weak.

Any idea what could be causing this?

 

[kellysmall87]

Sounds like infection. Which I'm sure you've already guessed at. A warm used tea bag is the cure to all eye problems here in England. We rub it over our eye if there's an infection or stickiness. Seems to relieve the problem. If all else fails, then a vet? Put some tonic into the water to boost the chick a bit maybe? Maybe keep it segregated, it may infect other chicks. That's all the advice I've got, sorry.

 

[whytedragon]

Thanks for the advice..much appreciated. Yeah, I was thinking infection, but my 2 biggest worries are that the chick won't be able to eat well enough, and the 2nd worry is it may be something that could infect the rest of the chicks. I suppose I will put the little one in a smaller container in the brooder, maybe with a buddy..and just keep cleaning the eyes. I will try the tea as well...I could use a cup anyway, lol.

 

[kellysmall87]

I've had a chick on it's own before for a few days, it didn't get lonely. So don't feel like you're being cruel by leaving one on its own.

Have a cup of tea and then try the teabag thing, a new teabag for each eye as to not spread it between eyes. I love silkies - I hope yours makes it! xx

 

[whytedragon]

Thanks

Oh, I forgot to mention...when I cleaned it's eyes last night..it smelled horrible! It had a tan colored diarrhea and smelled almost fishy. Perhaps from lack of nutrition. *shrug*
I hope it makes it too..i've already lost 2 other of my white Silkies..I dunno..the Ideal chicks don't seem as lively or growing as well as all the ones I have hatched.
And that's strange because they're on Turkey Gamebird starter mixed with a medicated chick mash, so they should be growing like weeds like every other has.

 

[kellysmall87]

Just found this :

Bacterial Infections

A number of bacterial infections can cause damage to the eye. Salmonella bacteria is known to cause conjunctivitis; inflamation of the eyeball, conjunctive pus and blindness. Often, young bird contract this from the Hen through yolk sac or naval infections.

If this is the case, if the problem persists, probably best to take the chick to a vet as it sounds like more than just an infected eye. I take it that that "Ideal what-ya-ma-call-it" is the place where they breed the chicks? Maybe they're not caring about the living standards of their hens/chicks and just churning the chicks out to sell.

 

[WI FarmChick]

I ordered 20 Silkie chicks from Ideal recently..and one of them keeps having to have it's eyes cleaned to open them. It's like a gooey substance that keeps coming back and sealing it's eyes shut. I clean them with warm water and a q-tip, then put a bit of VetRx on them, and the chick can finally eat and drink again, but it's already weak.

Any idea what could be causing this?

There are 10 different respiratory Diseases with this symptom. Check your chicks over carefully.

here are links for you to check out. Good luck.

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

http://poultrykeeper.com/poultry-diseases-and-disorders.html

 

[whytedragon]

Thanks everyone...though I won't be taking the chick to the vet. I don't take my chickens or chicks to the vet. There's way too many things a
chicken can come down with, and I cannot justify the cost.
Thank you for the link, I will look over it.

 

[whytedragon]

Well i've gone through half the page of the first one, atleast this chick doesn't appear to have any nasal discharge or any difficulty breathing. So I'm assuming for now it's just an infection. I'll just seperate it and keep cleaning the eyes and just hoping it does better. Unfortunately I've noticed that once they go downhill in ANY way..they usually don't make it back up. I've rarely had any luck saving chicks/chickens that show any signs of health problems. But the best I can do is try...I never give up on any until I know it's useless.
Good thing I ordered 20 chicks though.

 

[kellysmall87]

I take it you don't have the PDSA in America? Over here, it's free to take them there.

Good luck, all you can do is try!