5 Day Old Chicks With Injury To Eye

[Reurra]

So I removed all the chciks from my mamma hen except 2 thinking she would like to raise a couple on her own.

Shes confined to her own pen with visual access to the flock.

This morning i went out to check on everyone and found one of the baby chicks has a huge injury just behind the back corner of the eye. The eye is shut but watering. Its a bit swollen. I looked everywhere for anything he could have got caught on but I cant find anything at all. My only thought is that somehow, in some wild way that one of the flock was able to reach through the 1/2 hardware cloth and peck him, which is highly unlikely unless chickens have a 10 inch beak I dont know about, oooorrrr the mother pecked him.

I removed the healthy chick to make sure he doesnt pick on his sibling and to ensure his safety. I left the injured one with mom. So far he is running about with one eye. Hes not lethargic yet or showing signs of going downhill. Im hoping that he will be fine. Is there anything i can put on the injury to help? I dont have BluCote right now and might have to wait till tomorrow. I live so far away from any sort of feed store. Or should I just see how it will play out? Will mom pick and an injury on her chick?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I would just leave the eye be personally and see how it goes. You don't want to put bluekote in an eye. I might be suspicious of the mom. Have you observed her interactions with the chick?

 

[Reurra]

Well, its been a few days and although shes got a huge scab and her eye is sealed shut, there is no swelling or any sign of abscess or puss build up. Shes eating and drinking and being a happy one eyed chick. Lets hope its continues to go well! Momma bird is taking good care of her!

 

[Eggcessive]

Is the eye stuck together from drainage? I would use some saline to try and open it. You can put some plain neosporin triple antibiotic ointment on the scab.

 

[Reurra]

I checked on her last night and her eye is open!

She is still eating and drinking fine and her scab has gotten much smaller. A shaving got stuck to it early on so I left it, not wanting to pull it off. She seems to have healed on her own! What a resilient baby!