Eye Issue

[Mimi1008]

Hello! Can someone help me identify what’s the problem with my hens eye? I’ve been putting antibiotic ointment in her eye for weeks and it’s not improving. It was more swollen that it is but there is something white that looks like it’s covering her eye.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Hi, that appears to be the nictitating membrane, aka the third eyelid, that slides across from front to back. It almost looks like there is a black spot on or under it that may be irritating it. Is a vet a possibility? Let me ask some of our Educators what they think.
@Eggcessive @azygous

 

[LaFleche]

There seems to be a whitish mass ( pus) undee the third eyelid preventing it from retracting correctly.

Did your bird show signs of respiratory infection? Does it smell?

 

[Eggcessive]

It looks like pus or exudate on the nictitating membrane, as LaFleche said, preventing the membrane retracting. This may have been due to a peck injury. I would try to see a vet if possible, or get help to try and remove the white material. I would flush the eye 2 times a day with saline or an eye wash, and then keep applying the ointment each time.

 

[Mimi1008]

Hi, that appears to be the nictitating membrane, aka the third eyelid, that slides across from front to back. It almost looks like there is a black spot on or under it that may be irritating it. Is a vet a possibility? Let me ask some of our Educators what they think.
@Eggcessive @azygous

No vets see chickens in my area. She does close her whole eye lid over it.

 

[Mimi1008]

There seems to be a whitish mass ( pus) undee the third eyelid preventing it from retracting correctly.

Did your bird show signs of respiratory infection? Does it smell?

She did have a respiratory issue months ago when it started but that resolved. She has been fine for several months

 

[Mimi1008]

It looks like pus or exudate on the nictitating membrane, as LaFleche said, preventing the membrane retracting. This may have been due to a peck injury. I would try to see a vet if possible, or get help to try and remove the white material. I would flush the eye 2 times a day with saline or an eye wash, and then keep applying the ointment each time.

 

[Mimi1008]

I’ll try to flush it somehow. She’s hard to deal with about it. She moves her head so fast it’s hard to even get the ontiment inside her eye

 

[Mimi1008]

No vets see chickens in my area. She does close her whole eye lid over it.

I’ll see if I can get a video tomorrow

 

[Eggcessive]

It would help if you could get another pair of hands to treat her. It may be easier to have everything read, and grab her off the roost early in the morning, and then repeat that in the evening when she goes to roost. A red light on a headlamp flashlight works well for this. They do not know that you are sneaking up on them.