Why do ducklings' eyes stick together and what to do, how to treat and prevent

The diseases afflicted by ducklings are numerous and dangerous. Eye pathologies are no exception. Ailments usually develop in unsanitary conditions, with non-observance of elementary rules of maintenance. Moreover, illnesses often go unnoticed. Dust ingress, conjunctivitis, vitamin deficiency and other problems can cause illness. Having analyzed all the factors, you can understand why the eyes of ducklings stick together.

Why the duckling doesn't open his eyes and what to do about it

One of the most common causes of poor eye condition is conjunctivitis. This is an acute viral illness, as evidenced by the following symptoms:

• puffiness of the eyes;
• lacrimation;
• redness of the cornea;
• swelling of the eyelid that is completely closed.

It is recommended to treat a duckling with local antibiotics in the form of eye drops. Antibacterial lotions are also used. Another reason is ammonia blindness. Pathology is inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eye and respiratory tract. Lack of treatment leads to loss of vision. The disease develops against the background of excess ammonia in the ducklings. The following symptoms indicate a problem:

• slowing down the general development of birds;
• mucous discharge from the nose.

To improve the condition of the animal, feed is enriched with vitamin A. This component is found in large quantities in carrots. It is this product that is added to the daily diet of ducks. Another way to make up for the lack of a component is to give the animals 2-3 drops of fish oil for two weeks.

If the duck's eye is closed, aspergillosis may be the cause. This is a fungal disease, which is more susceptible to young mallards. The fungus primarily affects the lungs. Signs of pathology are:

1. Loss of appetite.
2. Labored, hoarse breathing.
3. Weight loss.
4. Inflammation of the eyes and beak.
5. The presence of foam in the eyes, watery eyes.
6. Paralysis of the limbs.
7. Stretching the neck.

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It is very difficult to treat pathology, so you need to try by any means to prevent its development. To stop the process of infection of the entire livestock, it is necessary to add a solution of copper sulfate to the water intended for drinking, and the antifungal drug "Nystatin" to the feed. It also requires replacing bedding and disinfecting all surfaces.

If a duck's eyes fester, then the cause may be sawdust or other particles on the mucous surface. If foreign debris gets stuck, it causes inflammation and pus formation. The eyes are washed with a solution of furacilin, and a tetracycline ointment is placed under the eyelid.

Prevention measures

In order to prevent the development of eye diseases in ducklings, a number of preventive measures are followed:

1. Monitor the ammonia content in the room.
2. Enrich the diet with vitamins and minerals.
3. Lay the bottom of the duck house with hay or straw.
4. Keep young animals separately from adults.
5. Reduce communication between ducks and other animals.
6. Regularly clean and disinfect the ducklings, change the bedding.
7. Provide 2-3 hours of walking daily.
8. Avoid crowding in the aviary.

Proper maintenance of ducklings, adherence to preventive measures will help avoid various diseases in birds, including eye problems. If symptoms of pathology occur, you should immediately contact your veterinarian.