Chicken picking at feet

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Hi all,

I have 5 chickens and one teenager chick/chicken.

We had 2 teenagers but sadly we lost one several weeks ago, which means that poor Cher has been on her own, the lowest of the pecking order and rather picked on.

Anyway, a few days ago we noticed that Cher had a cloudy eye, it doesn't seem to bother her, she is still eating and drinking, and running away from the others, she is super cuddly and a lovely chicken, but she has her eye shut most of the time now and it does look a little puffy.

Her poo is normal, there are no lumps or bumps that I can feel,

We thought one of the other chickens might of pecked her but other than that have no idea. Can a chicken just go blind overnight?

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Is there no one who can give me any advice?

[mollyripkim]

Sorry didn't want to just read and run but not got any great pearls of wisdom. Could be an injury if she is bottom of the pecking order but I also think Myco can affect their eyes, do you know what the other chicken died of?

[minature]

Thanks for your reply, I don't know what the other chicken died of, she just got weaker and weaker and had loose droppings and died. Sadly we have now lost 5 chicks from the same breeder so we think there must be some defect in the breeding or something, we are at a loose end as to what to do, she seems fine in every other way, she just has a cloudy eye!

[Sandychick]

I don't have any suggestions about what is causing the cloudy eye, but I think it would be worth taking her to the vets to find out what is causing it. As you have already lost her friend, it would be good to find out what is wrong with her. If it is something contagious, it could effect the others too. If it is an infection, she might just need antibiotics to clear it up.

 

Is it possible to keep her separate from the others? I think she would be better recovering on her own as she will probably have a rough time getting picked on by the older hens if she is showing any defect. If she recovers (and hasn't got anything contagious), it might be an idea to get another hen to join her, then do some slow introduction to the older hens? I think your suspicions about the breeder might be right. Loosing 5 chicks seems more than just bad luck.

 

I do hope she gets better soon x