Chickens eye is swollen

[JudyA]

Hello,
Noticed tonight that my chickens eye is almost closed with swelling. She's just been eating crumbles and mealworms as a treat. I did give them strawberries from the garden yesterday... haven't seen her poop.
She's a rainbow breed, 16 weeks old, she isn't laying yet.

I have no idea what to do with a sick chicken! Do I have to take her to a vet?!
(will have to change the promise to my husband of golden eggs to platinum ones if that's the case!)

I'd appreciate any info/direction you can send my way.
thanks,
Judy

 

[Eggcessive]

Have you had her since she was hatched, and where did she come from? Have you added any new birds to your flock recently. Is there any way she may have been stung by something or pecked in the eye? She has conjunctivitis (pinkeye) and swelling around the eye. Sometimes it can be from a peck, a sting, or a sign of a respiratory disease such as mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG.) Does she have any drainage from her nostrils or any bubbles in her eye? Any sneezing or other symptoms? I would rinse her eye with saline and apply either Terramycin eye ointment or plain Neosporin twice a day.

 

[JudyA]

i got her as a chick from TSC.
I will check these other symptoms you mention.
thanks very much!

 

[JudyA]

Thanks for your assistance.
So, her eye is definitely better this morning, but still a little puffy.
i thought i should at the least run some saline solution into her eye.
i don't see pus or gunk really at all, last night it was more swollen shut than gooey.

questions:
1. can i use the same saline solution product i spray into my nose? i'd get a new unit for the chickens of course, but its the same thing, right? saline solution is saline solution?
2. you mentioned Terramycin eye ointment, is that the SAME as neosporin? it's much more expensive and i'd like to keep costs to a minimum, but if the Terramycin is preferred, i'll get that <if/when needed>
3. i thought i'd prepared myself for raising chickens, but never truly considered what i'd do when things go awry, i feel like i defintely need a resource ... is byc my resource or do you prefer people look things up on their own? RTFM approach... if so, what manual should i look for?

Thank you again for your quick response and support, it definitely helped ease the anxiety of my first RX issue!