reddirtbirds
Songster
I posted this in another forum this morning and got no responses 
Ok everyone, I just had thirteen little chicks delivered to me from a breeder. Two were lost in shipping (somewhat expected I guess) and I just noticed this. This little one seems to have no eyes or have severe matting of some kind of coating over the opening of the lid. What should I do? It’s left side doesn’t look swollen but the right does (it looks more swollen in the photo than it is in real life)
update:
I cleaned both eyes with a cotton swab and warm water and after the chick scratched over the lid area and ran its head across its back to dry off and both have since opened. After some research of my own I’m still somewhat at a loss. None of the eleven chicks (including this one) have any respiratory symptoms like drainage from their noses or panting/gasping. There is so foul smell. I know that matted eyes can be very serious and I’m really concerned even though other than this they’re all normal. This chick has a normal appetite, energy level, and has been drinking plenty of water. is it possible that in shipping this chick had some kind of debris get into its eye or one of the other chicks pecked it causing it to run/mat? I’m getting antibiotics for their water tomorrow and I’m thinking I’ll also try some kind of eye cleanser to keep anything from becoming infected in case there was an abrasion to the eye. Any advice is very much appreciated!
I’ll update photos of its now opened eyes in the morning.
Ok everyone, I just had thirteen little chicks delivered to me from a breeder. Two were lost in shipping (somewhat expected I guess) and I just noticed this. This little one seems to have no eyes or have severe matting of some kind of coating over the opening of the lid. What should I do? It’s left side doesn’t look swollen but the right does (it looks more swollen in the photo than it is in real life)
update:
I cleaned both eyes with a cotton swab and warm water and after the chick scratched over the lid area and ran its head across its back to dry off and both have since opened. After some research of my own I’m still somewhat at a loss. None of the eleven chicks (including this one) have any respiratory symptoms like drainage from their noses or panting/gasping. There is so foul smell. I know that matted eyes can be very serious and I’m really concerned even though other than this they’re all normal. This chick has a normal appetite, energy level, and has been drinking plenty of water. is it possible that in shipping this chick had some kind of debris get into its eye or one of the other chicks pecked it causing it to run/mat? I’m getting antibiotics for their water tomorrow and I’m thinking I’ll also try some kind of eye cleanser to keep anything from becoming infected in case there was an abrasion to the eye. Any advice is very much appreciated!
I’ll update photos of its now opened eyes in the morning.
. Yesterday the two looked just a bit tired, Not really lethargic. I would pic them up and they would perk up just like any tired little chick. The one who’s eyes were matted is still doing great as is everyone else. I’ve only ever lost one chick before in five years of keeping chickens so this is making me very nervous. Any ideas on what’s causing this? My biggest fear is having to cull everyone
