9 week old baby attacked last night

[Anime2lover]

Thanks for that information! Very helpful.... I did mix some chick starter with water in a little condiment bowl set it on top of the crumbled grower/finisher that he seemed to be pecking at earlier, but I don't think he's getting much. I put some scrambled egg in there earlier and I've found a piece or two on the floor of his cage, but again...I think he's TRYING but unable to really grab or swallow it. However, he does seem much livelier this afternoon than he has been. I tried to pick up him and hold him and actually started flapping and chirping wildly which he hasn't done at all since this whole thing happened several days ago.

Unfortunately, his eye has swelled shut again. He was able to open it just a sliver this morning. I will use some warm water and a soft cloth to try to clean it again. I think we have some eye antibiotic drops somewhere. Would those be safe, do you think?

We used that on our birds when they had eye problems to. Worked fine for us.

 

[TJAnonymous]

So I found some neomycin eye drops which I used after cleaning his eye with some warm water and a soft cloth.

Afterwards I did some googling and learned that neomycin should never be used with penecillin because it can cause renal damage.

Uhhh, #@*t. So I'm using amoxicillin which isn't EXACTLY the same as penecillin but close enough.

So I'm thinking I shouldn't use the eye drops again... I do have regular Visine type drops... I also have some "all natural" herbal type eye drops that have essences in them to counteract irritants caused by allergies and such.

Thoughts? At this point I'm thinking the amoxicillin is more important than the eye drops....

 

[Trisseh]

I would probably continue with the amoxicillin and just use plain eye lubricant. You might still be ok, even though you’ve used the eye meds. a lot of drugs are ok and don’t interact if it’s going in the eye and the other drug is by another route, but I would still use just regular lubricant unless it’s getting a lot worse. There’s a decent barrier there which is why oral meds don’t usually help much with eyes. The visine should be fine, you may need to just use them as needed throughout the day - it doesn’t last long in the eye. Have to be careful with a lot of herbal treatments, animals react to some things a lot differently than people. (Dogs and chocolate for example)
Since you mentioned a puncture wound on his head, the eye might be having issues from that, or it may be a separate issue, ie. rubbing it in the bedding, that kind of thing. Hard to say. Monitor for an ulcer on the eye.

So right now this guy is on amoxicillin and Gatorade? Anything else you’re giving him?

 

[Eggcessive]

I think the neomycin eye drops would by fine. You could stop the amoxicillin if you like. Neomycin used intravenously can be toxic if too much is used, but it is usually not a problem in the small amount used in an eye ointment. The antibiotic eye ointment that I suggested has a little neomycin in it. Or try some vaseline or coconut oil. Vaseline is the base for most eye ointments.

 

[TJAnonymous]

I have all of these.... Regular Visine, coconut oil, and Vaseline.

I've been giving him some Amoxicillin mixed with Gatorade twice a day. I was giving him regular Gatorade too by dropper several times a day but since he now appears to be drinking water I stopped the Gatorade by itself.

As for food, he has a bowl of grower/finisher crumble. I took some of this and mixed it with water in a little condiment bowl and put it next to his crumble. I've also got a little custard cup of scrambled eggs mixed with water.

He does appear to be picking a little bit at the crumble and eggs but not much...

He has stopped that weird groaning noise he was making. He is also itching a lot at the location of the puncture wound on the side of his head/neck.

 

[TJAnonymous]

Morning update - he is doing really well this morning... He fought taking his medicine for at least 5 solid minutes before capitulation... Lol. He is definitely pecking at the crumble. I tossed him a couple of mealworms. He got very excited and enthusiastic about trying to eat them but each time he pecked at one, he'd end up slinging it outside the cage so I don't think he is able to get a good "grip" with his beak yet.... I tossed a couple of mealworms in some water to try to soften them up. Maybe that will help...

His right eye is still only open just a sliver. By the way he cocks his head, I don't think he can see out of it well, if at all. Haven't given him any eye drops yet today... Will probably do that in a bit.

 

[TJAnonymous]

Wondering how long I should wait before trying to re-introduce him to the flock? I know chickens are very particular and will try to kill him if they think he is sick....

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Do you have a cage-type dog crate? If so, you could put him in that with the flock so they can see him. Make sure he has food and water and is protected from direct sun, of course. That will help with re-integration if you do it for three or four days. Other than that, I don't know, as long as he can see to protect himself and can eat and drink, I think he'd be ready, but I would definitely ask @Eggcessive to see what she thinks.

ETA, oh and that he has no wounds to be pecked, of course!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Sorry, be sure you see my edited comment please.

 

[TJAnonymous]

Do you have a cage-type dog crate? If so, you could put him in that with the flock so they can see him. Make sure he has food and water and is protected from direct sun, of course. That will help with re-integration if you do it for three or four days. Other than that, I don't know, as long as he can see to protect himself and can eat and drink, I think he'd be ready, but I would definitely ask @Eggcessive to see what she thinks.

ETA, oh and that he has no wounds to be pecked, of course!

Yes, he's in a dog crate right now in my garage. I could easily put him out in the run and keep him the crate, then bring him back in the garage at night.

Interestingly enough, his brothers and sister have adapted well to being in the big coop with the adults. I hadn't integrated them earlier because I thought they might be too young/small still and would be "picked on" by the adults. They seemed to have overcome that, though. They REFUSE to even go in the back part of the run where their temporary coop is still at.... After the 2nd night, I no longer have to track them down and move them to the big coop. They go in there at dusk with the others all by themselves now.