[Andrew4613]

I've had my chickens one week and a day now and I love them to bits! Spent lots of time watching them foraging for food and generally being chickens! They have started establishing a pecking order, charging at each other, but last night I noticed Mabel (bovans nera) had one eye permanently closed. I couldn't see any damage round the eye as though she'd been attacked by one of the others. Does anyone have any ideas???

Also most poos in the coop look 'normal' but I've noticed some pops are runny and a sandy brown colour - is this ok?

Many thanks


Andy

[kegs]

I can't help with the eye problem so I hope it gets better soon.  However this thread should help you with the poo.

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=17568.0

[Helenaj]

If there's no watery discharge with "bubbles" in the eye and it is just closed, it may be she's had a bit of a bump or been stung by something. I know that when I have any new pullets they are a bit mystified with the outdoors, some never having seen grass. Mine went through a series of eye problems until I realised they had stung their eye on nettles. Never having seen them before, they ran straight into them during the pecking order battles. I've since cut down the nettles and had no more problems.
Just have a little look around their environment and you may see something that could be causing the problem.

As for the poos - chickens produce a huge variety in poo colour and consistency (you'll become obsessed with it!). The one you mention sounds like a perfectly normal caecal poo - have a look at the link kegs has sent you and all the gory photos are in there!

[Andrew4613]

Thanks her eye has cleared up fine....although another bird has a poorly eye now!!!