Chick hatched with eyelids sealed shut? *Pic*

[splashie]

Hi Everyone,

Been a long time since I've posted to this board (I mostly read), but I'm in a situation where I desperately need your advice.

Yesterday we had a chick hatch under her momma, it is a Malaysian Serama. We noticed that it was acting funny, so we pulled the chick out.

The chick cannot see because it's eyelids are permanently shut. I can see the tiny crease where the 2 parts of the eyelids meet, but they do not separate to reveal the eye.

She did not have any crust build up around the eyes. Perfectly normal chick except for the eyelids.

We have gently tried to separate the 2 eyelids by gently pulling away in each direction, but they don't seem to want to budge.

Has anyone had experience with this type of situation in the past? Is there a solution?

It is drinking with help, but it has yet to figure out that it can eat food. I have only seen it drink by itself once when it accidentally bumped into the waterer.

She is now 24 hours old.

All the mom's other chicks were fine, no other abnormalities in her clutch.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions, recommendations, etc... I'm more than happy to supply more details if needed. I will also take a photo and get it posted.

Debi

 

[LynneP]

Hi Deb, I can hear the concern in your 'voice'. I would say that if intervention is to happen you need a vet or experienced breeder asap. Because chicks imprint so fast and are visual creatures, this one needs to get with the flock plan immediately. Her mother may not accept her if she continues to act abnormally.

I'm sure the lids can be surgically opened, but I wouldn't have the skills. All the best.

If it were just crusting, saline would help...

 

[splashie]

Here's the best photo that I've been able to get, if you look closely you can see where the 2 sections of the eyelid meet. The black area around the eyes is the coloring of the feathering.

To me, in this photo, it looks swollen, that actually is not the case, there is no swelling around the eyes.

Debi

 

[splashie]

Hi LynneP,

Thanks for the quick response! We do have a call out to our vet, but we haven't heard back from her as of yet.

My husband and I were just wondering if the chick even has eyes behind the lids.

Were trying to figure that out now, but we can't get another chick to keep it's eyes closed long enough for us to compare the two.

Debi

 

[montcapu]

definetly keep us posted, would like to know about that little chick

 

[splashie]

Great News!

The little guy has started to open his eyes! They just open a tiny bit, but it can see!

We continued to gently pull the bottom and top of the eyelids, ever so slightly, but it seems to be working.

I have also been giving this little guy some Poly-Vi-Sol without Iron, it's up and walking around more and more!

Yipee!

We will be keeping this one as a pet, along with Crypt, who is blind in one eye (via an injury).

We have named it "SeeMe".

With all my experience with chickens and baby chicks, this is the 1st I ever encountered something like this. My only guess is that it was premature when it hatched under it's Mama.

I hope this post may help someone in the future who may run across this problem.

 

[77horses]

So glad he's getting better!

 

[montcapu]

love the name

 

[splashie]

Thanks montcapu! I like weird names *smile*

 

[montcapu]

I have lots of weird names, I let my kids name the animals so its whatever they come up with...lol