Chick won't open eyes

[jillscoop]

The chick was fine when she hatched. She was active and eating and drinking. 3 days later she has her eyes closed. One of the eyes looks as though there is a little bloody vein under the eyelid. I saw them pecking at her so I've segregated her out, & gave her 2 little friends. now we are 3 days later and she still has her eyes shut tight. I've used a cotton swab with eyewash a few times a day, thinking they were pecked but would heal.. but I'm not seeing any change. I was dipping her beek in the water so she would drink every few hours. and I sprinkled food all over the floor so anywhere she pecks she'll find food. Now I've watched her several times walk blind over to the water and take a few drinks and then walk back to under the bulb, so she must be able to decern light and has figured out the water is 5 steps to the left. She's eating and drinking and socializing with her 2 friends, seems to be perfectly happy being blind. Do I pry them open or wait and see??? There doesn't appear to be any infection/gunk on her eyelid and with the continual eye wash I don't think the lids are stuck, but if they are healing from being pecked I don't want to damage them by opening them. any wise words would be really appreciated. Thanks

 

[fried green eggs]

Chicks will peck at anything the first few days so, my guess is that is what caused the problem but, not sure because you say both eyes won't open. I have read on here that you can use neosporin with pain reliever ointment around chicks eyes and it's good and OK to get some in the eye. You may want to do your own search on "chick with eye injury" or "chick can't open eye" on this site. I would add vitamins to chicks diet. Good Luck.

 

[jillscoop]

I have a happy ending! she has a working eye! I was doing this all wrong!
Maybe this post will help someone else in the same boat down the road.
I was being too careful! I'd been gently treating her with eyewash and a Q-tip. That wasn't enough to get it open. So tonight I got brave and soaked her eye in warm saline solution on a paper towel really soaked it to for a couple minutes. Then I took neosporin original (thank you fried green eggs) My optometrist tells me to use it on my own eyes sooo yeah.. why not use it on my chicks.. The original one doesn't burn my eyes but the pain relief does ironically.. So i used the original one that my optometrist recommends. I rubbed the little eyelids with it up and down instead of side to side.. and all be darn the little eye opened! she snapped it back shut fast but over the course of the next few minutes she shyly blinked it open more and more... She now has it wide open in her own personal brooder as she readjusts to the sighted world.

Thanks fried green eggs for your help.. so glad you brought up the neosporin I gave her some chick vitamins and electrolytes as you suggested too to get her built back up.

 

[fried green eggs]

I'm so Glad to hear your little chick is doing well and can see!

 

[First Ladies]

Thanks for your question and for sharing what you did to help the little chick. I just brought home my first every chicks from the post office a couple of hours ago 5 are doing great, one dies but the 7th seems strong and chirps, but while the others ran off to check out the food right away, this little gal just stood there. I noticed that it's not opening it's eyes. Before finding this thread, I also tried just wetting it carefully with a Q-tip. I now have her in her own shoe box in the brooder and I'm off to the store now for some saline and neosporin. I hope I have as good as luck as you did!

I'm also been getting it to drink electrolite/vitamin water by dipping its beak in it and she'll swallow, but she's done no pecking or drinking on her own. She just stands there until she falls asleep.

 

[fried green eggs]

Thanks for your question and for sharing what you did to help the little chick. I just brought home my first every chicks from the post office a couple of hours ago 5 are doing great, one dies but the 7th seems strong and chirps, but while the others ran off to check out the food right away, this little gal just stood there. I noticed that it's not opening it's eyes. Before finding this thread, I also tried just wetting it carefully with a Q-tip. I now have her in her own shoe box in the brooder and I'm off to the store now for some saline and neosporin. I hope I have as good as luck as you did!

I'm also been getting it to drink electrolite/vitamin water by dipping its beak in it and she'll swallow, but she's done no pecking or drinking on her own. She just stands there until she falls asleep.

This site is great because most of the questions we have about our chickens; someone else has already asked

Lots of great info and knowledge out there - to help us all.