Single hen

[prudance]

Had our chickens for a month now I think and we had one that we thought was permanently sleepy. Noticed though that she will even walk around with eyes closed! She finally opened them yesterday when I was holding her and I spotted what almost looks like cataracts in both eyes. Took her to the vets today but he was baffled. His opinion was divided between:

 

1. An ulcer

2. Vitamin defficiency

3. Overactive immune system (just like me then 'cos my hayfever started this week). reacting to something that he didn't know...

 

He gave her an antibiotic but thought that some sort of eye drops were actually her best bet. Unfortunately though she REALLY didn't like him putting the dye drops in her eyes. She came over all funny with her beak stuck open and stopped breathing for a minute. I thought she was about to die in my arms from fright!

 

Anyone else experienced similar? Anyone ever contemplated putting eye drops in their chicken? Would the fright kill her?

[Plum]

I'm sorry to hear that it sounds serious. I had a look on the internet and it said cataracts can occur when the chicken has been treated for a previous infection, vitamin E deficiency or hereditary. I hope the drops help her. At least she opened her eyes now which must be a sign they are more comfortable.

When you were giving her the eye drops they may have run down into her nostrils or throat. I would imagine chickens have tear ducts like humans that connect with the respiratory system. If you wrap her up first she won't flap and panic. Good luck

[chelsea]

Our little Willow has had an eye problem from 8 weeks (from when OH rescued her), at first it just looked like she was blind (the eye is very dark & cloudy) we took her to the vets at about 10 weeks as it started to swell up and she had trouble blinking.

 

Vet wasnt sure what it was, he said possible tumour and its best to leave it to its own accord as she is healthy in every other way.

 

He gave us some drops which we continue to use when the eye looks swollen (some days it looks ok) but it is hard to get them in (2 person job) and then once in the eye she shakes her head so its hard to tell if its really gone in.

 

She definitely is blind in one eye though.

 

We did initially try cold black tea to soothe in the beginning, you could try that? I dont think there are many good "chicken" vets around and eyes on hens must be a very difficult scenario for a non chicken vet aswell.

[prudance]

Thanks guys. So it is possible to do drops at home then

 

The vet only put yellow dye drops in her eyes to see what exactly was on the surface of her eyes. He said definitely not cataracts. After, in his words "she'd got herself into a bit of a pickle", he seemed worried that attempting to do drops again might cause her more distress than she could cope with, so he hasn't prescribed any. However, the beak stuck open thing may have been the fluid running down her neck - didn't know that could happen - thanks Plum.

 

Hopefully, the antibiotics will perform a miracle, and I'll make sure she gets more greens in the afternoon and some sloppy mash for breakfast as I think she's slightly dehydrated.

 

The stress of it all has made me break out in hives despite taking anti-histamine this afternoon for hayfever!

[chelsea]

oh dear poor you, it is stressful for us & the hens isnt it. She was probably frightened as its all new to her, especially as you've only had her a month aswell. I am sure once she's a bit older and wiser a trip to the vet wont be such a scary experience Our Ella (3 years) is a pro patient now!

[helenmb]

Hi Prudance -How are your chooks poorly eyes? I have one girlie with a sore one too at the moment, hoping it won't be a vet visit but am using cold tea to soothe as recommended by several previous posts.

[Plum]

How is she Prudance, has she responded?

[prudance]

Hi everyone, thanks for the concern. She seems fine in herself apart from going to bed half an hour before the others now. I like to think that she's not resting her eyes quite as much but I'm afraid it's probably wishful thinking. The kids still think she's quite sleepy. You can still see the marks on both eyes too.

 

I think we'll give it another week, if no improvement we'll take her back to the vets and ask for the eye drops. It can't be any fun having permanently sore eyes, and if they deteriorate she's not going to have much of a life in a few months time. Keep your fingers crossed we don't need to make the vet trip at all.