2 day old chick can't open eyes -- Advice Please

CherokeeCowgirl

In the Brooder
9 Years
Jan 30, 2010
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2 chicks hatched out on the same day. The third chick hatched out a day later. He is up and walking around and chirping but he won't open his eyes. Both are shut and he won't hold them open. I have not seen him pecking, eating or drinking so I have been helping him with that to make sure he is getting something but I am worried he might not be able to do all this on his own.

Any insight on why he can't open his eyes?
 
No, they aren't pasty looking. I gently tried prying his eyes open for him just in case something sticky from the hatching caused it but they open easily....he just can't hold them open.
 
Some eye washes, from a drugstore, will contain a slight boric acid amount in them. The boric acid is an anti infectant. Being a late hatcher, he may have been exposed to a higher bacterial count in the bator than the first two. If it irritated his eyes, he may not want to open them. I can only suggest: Keep feeding and water him with sugar water solution and try bathing his eyes with the eye wash solution 3 times or more a day.
Good Luck.
 

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