The Poultry Keeper

thandi · Joined: 07 Sep 2005 Posts: 215 Location: east sussex

One of my Barnvelder girls has intermittent problems with one of her eyes.
She is otherwise bright and happy, eating and drinking well, is a good weight etc, but this one eye occasionally 'bubbles' from the tear duct area.
The 'bubbling' is clear, and initially I thought she might have a bit of sawdust or similar irritating it, but it has been going on too long (albeit intermittently) now.
This last bout has seen the red pigment the surrounds the eye area, replaced by a discolored 'crusty' area - although is just directly beneath the eye.

None of the other chooks are, or have been affected, and they treat Scabbygirl as usual.

The henhouse and run are as far as possible, kept clean and fresh (henhouse as well as being well ventilated, has a large window which is opened daily for airing out)

I would much prefer to treat naturally, but any suggestions welcomed.

I would also welcome any input as to what this might be, and whether anyone has experienced similar.

many thanks

thandi Confused

ejc-free · Joined: 11 Jul 2005 Posts: 138

You could try "goldeneye" cream - you get it from chemists - I think it has marigold or candula in it. Useful on human sore eyes as well. We used it as well as antibiotics on a couple of ours who came down with mycoplasma shortly after we brought them home.

Brahmagirl · Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 22 Location: Devon, UK

Hi thandi - very interested to read your post - as I also have a Barnevelder hen who has the same problem. She is about 3 years old - bought from an auction (big mistake). She also has a respiratory problem and consequently I keep a very close watch on her and if she gets too bad I put her on a course of Aureomycin which seems to help. But the eye problem is exactly as you describe - the lower lid of one of her eyes is lumpy and crusty - sometimes it almost obscures part of the iris in her eye. Sometimes its not so bad. I have used Chloramphenicol opthalmic ointment on her eye and this has helped but then I find sometimes it tends to make the area around the eye dry and flakey. I am going to try the golden eye ointment that ejc-free has suggested.

Now, this year, I have bred six new Barnevelder pullets (unrelated to the hen mentioned above) and one of these has had an eye problem right from the time of hatching. She closes one eye a lot and some days she has the 'bubbles' and watering from that eye - but I don't think its myco. She is, otherwise, really healthy and lively and laying. So far there is no problem with the eye lid.

I too would be interested to hear if anyone has any suggestions for other treatments.

debcat · Posted: Sat Dec 10, 2005 12:39 am Post subject:

One of Jess's pekins is the same,
She's had it for months now, all the others are fine and she has no other symptoms
sometimes it looks fine sometimes its frothy and crusty
Just the one eye, have tried chloramphenical but it still comes back
Will try and get some golden eye ointment
Thanks ejc

Mel · Joined: 15 Oct 2005 Posts: 150 Location: Gosport, Hampshire

we have bovan nerers and one of ours, Sage, had virtually similar symptoms. it turned out to be a blocked sinus duct and we had to massage around the eye daily to help clear it, but also needed a course of antibiotics from the vet that was given in her water and doesn't do any of the others any harm. hope this helps

NannyP · Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2006 3:19 pm Post subject:

Bought some Goldeneye Ointment on Saturday morning, as Muppet often has mucky eyes. Haven't used it yet, will use it for the first time tonight after a clean up with cold tea. Anyone tried it and got any feedback please?
Confused

thandi · Joined: 07 Sep 2005 Posts: 215 Location: east sussex

sorry nannyP, I ought to have replied before, but I am afraid life rather overtook me!

Used the GE ointment, to great effect, but be warned, they dont like it administered!

thank you to whoever suggested it.

thandi

NannyP · Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2006 3:26 pm Post subject:

Thanks Thandi, and yes I am 'specting trouble Wink

thandi · Joined: 07 Sep 2005 Posts: 215 Location: east sussex

It is the first time one of my girls has ever had a go at me LOL.

actually after the second time, it was as though she realized I was trying to help, and didn't fight me (quite so much Razz

)

thandi

NannyP · Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2006 6:14 pm Post subject:

So far so good, Muppet came into the kitchen and had her eyes bathed with some cold tea and then I put in some ointment. Bless, she never murmured.
Hopefully, this will solve her recurrent problem once and for all. I'll do it for a week and if it doesn't clear, get some more anti bi's from the vet Very Happy

thandi · Joined: 07 Sep 2005 Posts: 215 Location: east sussex

how did you get on with the GEE NannyP? Did your chooks problem clear up?