4 wk old chick's eye sealing shut -- Advice?

[iheartchkns]

I have a chick that had an eye that was real swollen one day when it was around 2 weeks old. I tried putting warm tea on it, advice I'd gotten from this message board. I also tried terramycin once. Neither completely cleared the problem. Now, a couple weeks later, the chick's eyelid seems to be sealing shut as the eyeball continues to grow underneath. I'm really worried for her. Will her eyelid open up again? Will this condition require surgery? Do veterinarians deal with this kind of thing? What else can I do? Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

 

[RM44]

Are there any other symptoms? Sneezing, coughing, rattling? Drainage? Have you introduced this baby to other chickens?

Sorry you're having this problem. Good luck with figuring it out.

 

[medan]

id say it got pecked or more likely stepped on I am unsure of the dosage of duracillin (amoxacillin for chickens add to water ) but it may be on the package or ask the feed store maybe someone else can comment ? but if its swollen in the eye its prolly infected you also need to seperate it from the others for a time

 

[iheartchkns]

She's been over the infection-like swelling for a while, but the eye never completely opened up again. So, now it is sealing shut. She is still with the other chicks, which are all quite big and feathered out now. None show symptoms for the same problem and they're all very healthy.

This chick is thriving, otherwise. Eats and drinks well and gets along with the others. I just wish I could figure out how to get her eye lids apart without doing more harm.

 

[RM44]

Definitely don't force the eye open. I have never personally treated an eye swollen shut, but I've read that warm compresses can sometimes help. Also antibiotic ointment in the eyelid area can moisturize and help the chick if it tries to open the eye.