Chicken (pullet) 4 month old stung in eye by honey bees

[Leann Moot]

Was she stung in the eyeball itself? Or just the lid?

I believe just the lid, I did not see any stingers in the eye but her eye is a dark color and cloudy?

 

[Leann Moot]

Hello and welcome back to Backyard Chickens! So glad you decided to join the flock.

I'm so sorry to hear about your girl! I haven't experienced anything like that before.

Thank you for your support.

 

[Leann Moot]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
I have no experience with a chicken with bee stings but IMO, you've done a great job treating her. I would continue with your current treatment as she is improving. It will take time for her to recover.

Thank you for your support and will continue what I am doing.

 

[Leann Moot]

Hello, and welcome! Glad that you joined! Good luck with your pullet!

Thank you for your support.

 

[Leann Moot]

Was she stung in the eyeball itself? Or just the lid?

I believe just the lid, I did not see any stingers in the eye but will double check today. Thank you for your support.

 

[Leann Moot]

Welcome Sorry, that sounds painful! You already removed the stingers, that’s great. Keep using the ointment until all swelling and irritation is gone. Cold compress early may help but I don’t think many chickens would be tolerating it. If the stingers did not damage the eye itself or at the most caused an abrasion on the cornea she should be ok... 15 stings, that’s a lot! Never had a critter with more than one and no damage to eye

Thank you for your support. That was how many stingers I pulled out just around her eye she was stung 27 times between both sides of her face. To be honest I am very surprised she is still alive, tough bird. Thanks again.

 

[Leann Moot]

Sounds like you are doing all the right things for her. I hope she continues to improve.

Thank you for your support.

 

[coach723]

I think you did the right things. I did find this article, might help, treatment was topical ointment and steroids for 2 weeks.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaophthalmology/fullarticle/1148440

 

[Eggcessive]

In the early stages of a sting, sometimes it can help to give a small dose of benadryl once to help reduce swelling. That would be 1/4 tablet of 25 mg benadryl or diphenhydramine. Glad to hear that your chicken is doing okay, and hope it gets better soon.

 

[Leann Moot]

I think you did the right things. I did find this article, might help, treatment was topical ointment and steroids for 2 weeks.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaophthalmology/fullarticle/1148440

Thank you for the article it was very informational, thanks again. I am going to Tractor Supply today, I will see if they have steroids for animals. This morning when I administer the medication on her it looked better. She went out with the flock scratching and pecking for bugs, grass and frogs. I really appreciate everyone's interest and help, thanks again.