Chicken With A Swollen Eye

One of my chickens has a swollen eye and it seems to be getting worse. Do you have any idea what it could be and what I could do?

Swollen eyes in chickens are often caused by an eye worm. This small white worm lodges itself in the corner of the chickens eye. The eye then becomes inflamed and swollen and the eyelids can often stick shut. The chicken will often scratch at the eye as it becomes itchy and painful. If it is not treated promptly it can destroy the eye.

You will need to take the chicken to your veterinarian in order to treat the eye with ivermectin drops or by removing the eye worm.

The worm is spread by infected cockroaches, so it is important to try and keep the chickens pen clean and free from cockroaches.