Chick with Eye injury

[old biddy]

One of my chicks has been injured somehow and has a damaged eye. It looks like it might have been pushed or fallen off the roost or stomped by the other birds...not sure what happened. I put it in a small cage with food and water to protect it and make sure it is eating. I have read that I should wash the eye with saline solution and then administer conjunctivitis eye drops which is a broad spectrum antibiotic. I live in the country and and can't get to town until tomorrow to buy saline solution and conjunctivitis eye drops. All I have on hand is Visine for allergies. I hate to wait til tomorrow to clean and treat the eye but am hesitant to administer Visine if it will prove harmful to the chick. Has anyone had any experience in this regard?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm sorry to hear about your chick.
Do you have any photos of the damage?

You can make your own saline solution. Use 1 teaspoon salt to 1 quart of water, boil for 15 minutes. Let cool. Store excess in a sterilized jar for up to 24 hours then throw out.

If you have plain Neosporin/triple antibiotic ointment, that can also be used in the eye.

 

[KsKingBee]

I'm sorry to hear about your chick.
Do you have any photos of the damage?

You can make your own saline solution. Use 1 teaspoon salt to 1 quart of water, boil for 15 minutes. Let cool. Store excess in a sterilized jar for up to 24 hours then throw out.

If you have plain Neosporin/triple antibiotic ointment, that can also be used in the eye.

Exactly what I do but do make sure it is the trip oint without pain reliever. Other chicks like to peck eyes, I think it is the shiny they are attracted to.

 

[old biddy]

Thanks guys for the advice. I'll give it a try.

 

[old biddy]

I read on the labels for neosporin/triple antibiotic ointment that it was not to be used
in the eyes. Is that a concern?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I read on the labels for neosporin/triple antibiotic ointment that it was not to be used
in the eyes. Is that a concern?

You can use it in the eyes, but if it's concerning to you, get some Terramycin eye ointment at the feed store like Tractor Supply or you can order it online.

 

[old biddy]

Exactly what I do but do make sure it is the trip oint without pain reliever. Other chicks like to peck eyes, I think it is the shiny they are attracted to.

What is it about the triple antibiotic ointment "with" pain reliever that is undesirable?

 

[old biddy]

As an update, my little chick "Lazarus" has made a turn for the better. After my first post I did not think it would survive...starting out with one bad eye and the next morning having both eyes affected. It was essentially blind, was not eating, and could not keep its balance. I administered saline solution 2 - 3 times per day and treated it with pink eye medication. I fed it a watery mush of chick starter and kept it hydrated using an eye dropper. I kept it under a heat lamp even though our nights here in North Florida are pretty warm. Today both eyes are open and apparently functional (it can see) and it is eating on its own. Hooray! This morning I hobbled it as if it had splayed legs to see if that would help its balance...I am watching it closely.

I think that this chick was failing to thrive from the start...it was smaller than the others and did not keep up well with momma. It may have been weak due to some illness and then was picked on by the others.

Fingers crossed...and my thanks to all of you for your help and advice.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

As an update, my little chick "Lazarus" has made a turn for the better. After my first post I did not think it would survive...starting out with one bad eye and the next morning having both eyes affected. It was essentially blind, was not eating, and could not keep its balance. I administered saline solution 2 - 3 times per day and treated it with pink eye medication. I fed it a watery mush of chick starter and kept it hydrated using an eye dropper. I kept it under a heat lamp even though our nights here in North Florida are pretty warm. Today both eyes are open and apparently functional (it can see) and it is eating on its own. Hooray! This morning I hobbled it as if it had splayed legs to see if that would help its balance...I am watching it closely.

I think that this chick was failing to thrive from the start...it was smaller than the others and did not keep up well with momma. It may have been weak due to some illness and then was picked on by the others.

Fingers crossed...and my thanks to all of you for your help and advice.

Glad you are seeing some improvement!

 

[PhilMitch]

I had a peacock that injured his eye, at first it looked like it was ripped out as there was some thing hanging out. After a week or so the swelling went down and his eye was still there but he is completely blind on his left side.
It's amazing what they can heal from and then learn to adapt with.