I recently bought 7 pullets at the auction (I know--that was my first mistake)and discovered that all but two have really gross, swollen, weepy eyes. The girls are generally listless but will eat and drink. They keep their eyes closed most of the time, and I don't think it's because they're sleeping! A side note: One of them had a serious infestation of flea-like parasites around her eyes, and the others were picking them off. However, she's one of the ones that doesn't have the yucky eyes. Go figure! Any ideas out there? I heard there's a form of Mareck's that affects the eyes; or, could it be "slate eye?" And how to treat it? Thanks!!

-- TJ (btkline@softcom.net), August 31, 2001

Answers

The unfortunate thing here is that the person that sold those pullets was aware of what they were selling (likely). I suppose some people don't care what they have to do to get money.

I hope you don't have an existing flock of chickens that these new gals are with, in case what they have in infectious. If so, you may be in for a long haul of treating whatever ailment they will eventually all have.

I had a rooster with sick eyes once. You wouldn't believe everything i tried for that guy (antiobiotic ointments from the vet, antiobiotic in the water...) and for months he was no better. probably fortunate for him but sad for me, a dog broke into my coop & killed every single chicken i had. It's likely my little guy had a serious ailment rather than a simple eye infection, i just didn't know at the time.

Your pullets could have a number of things wrong with them. Here's a good website with great descriptions & treatments of many different diseases:

http://www.surrey.ac.uk/~cus1fb/fowl/Ailments.html

Hope you can successfully treat whatever it might be & i caution you to add to your flock while these gals are sick.

-- Buk Buk (bukabuk@hotmail.com), August 31, 2001.

Check out this site:

http://archive.msstate.edu/dept/poultry/diagext.htm

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), September 02, 2001.