Chick's Eye Injury

Ducky07

Chirping
5 Years
Jun 4, 2014
18
14
69
Marysville, Pennsylvania


Hello!

I recently purchased 13 chicks from a local hardware store. Upon checking out they offered us an "odd ball" chick. The chick's fellow brooder mates were pecking at its eye. The sales person noticed the bullying and quickly separated the chick. We have kept "Patchy" separated (in a cardboard box inside the brooder) but were wondering when to release it into the flock.

Aside from the eye Patchy seems healthy and energetic. Her eye has developed a film over top -- Is this normal? I have attached a picture. How can I aid in the chick's recovery or should I leave the eye alone?
 
If the wound is clean and dry I would leave it, if not neosporin (sp?), Without pain reliever, works well. Do not return chick to flock until healed, they will pick at any scabbed area. They do make a wound treatment for chickens that color the wound blue, if in the store you might look for it.
 
If the wound is clean and dry I would leave it, if not neosporin (sp?), Without pain reliever, works well. Do not return chick to flock until healed, they will pick at any scabbed area. They do make a wound treatment for chickens that color the wound blue, if in the store you might look for it.
I agree with @OrganicFarmWife leave it be. If you do see signs of discharge, pus or infection you can apply an eye ointment like Vetericyn eye gel or Terramycin eye ointment in the eye, plain neosporin will also work as well.
I may be possible that the eye is lost, but if you search here on BYC there are numerous people who have productive chickens with either one eye or even blind.
The only other suggestion I have, when possible, still keep her isolated to prevent pecking, but make a divider in the brooder out of some type of wire (hardware cloth) so the chicks can see her and she them. This way they are a bit more familiar with her so when its time to integrate her fully with the others (hopefully) there will be less problems.
Good luck with your little cutie
smile.png
 
I agree with @OrganicFarmWife leave it be. If you do see signs of discharge, pus or infection you can apply an eye ointment like Vetericyn eye gel or Terramycin eye ointment in the eye, plain neosporin will also work as well.
I may be possible that the eye is lost, but if you search here on BYC there are numerous people who have productive chickens with either one eye or even blind.
The only other suggestion I have, when possible, still keep her isolated to prevent pecking, but make a divider in the brooder out of some type of wire (hardware cloth) so the chicks can see her and she them. This way they are a bit more familiar with her so when its time to integrate her fully with the others (hopefully) there will be less problems.
Good luck with your little cutie
I do have some Vetericyn in the cabinet... that is safe to use at such a young age?
Thank you for your advice and I appreciate the tips about the hardware cloth -- We had a mirror in there but I didn't find that sufficient.
 

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