Conjunctivitis in Chick! Please help!

SuspiciousChick

Chirping
Mar 31, 2025
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67
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So I have a 2-3 week old chick that started exhibiting symptoms of conjunctivitis. She was making pained noises when scratching near her eyes, and she refused to open them for a long time. I held her against my chest, under my jacket, and she acted lethargic and shivering. I set her down and she eventually perked up and chirped for the other chicks, and I looked at her eyes. Watery, the scleras dark-red looking. I watched her rub her head against her body and she let out a pained-distress noise. I set her back in the brooder and she has an appetite. I looked all over her and I could only find a problem with her eyes. I’m going to clean and replace all of their bedding this evening. How do I go about this? I am planning on isolating her this evening, when I pick up eye ointment of some kind. What ointment do y'all suggest? Anyone have any experience with treating pink eye in chickens? Please help! I can’t stand to see her in pain.
P.S I don’t have a picture of her eyes (I’m paranoid about touching her then touching my phone and having the germs on my phone) but I added a picture of the internet of what her eyes look like. (The sclera is dark)
 

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Hi, I've only used Terramycin and triple antibiotic cream on eyes before. Both were effective. I've never had a chicken with pink eye but I've had chickens with eye issues before.

The triple antibiotic cream without pain killer would most likely be the easiest..we get it at at the dollar store...although it's not a dollar...🤔

But it will do the trick!

Good luck ! All will be well.
 
Hi, I've only used Terramycin and triple antibiotic cream on eyes before. Both were effective. I've never had a chicken with pink eye but I've had chickens with eye issues before.

The triple antibiotic cream without pain killer would most likely be the easiest..we get it at at the dollar store...although it's not a dollar...🤔

But it will do the trick!

Good luck ! All will be well.
Thank you so much for your reply! I greatly appreciate it ❤️
 
AH! How does one distinguish if it is or isn’t an MG infection? Could it come from soiled bedding? Yesterday, I cleaned out all of their bedding, hoping that would help.
Unless you get testing, it is just an assumption. If you ever lose her or another you could have your state vet do a necropsy to exam the sinuses and do a culture. You also could contact Zoologix or VetDna (RAL lab) and ask about their testing for respiratory diseases. Zoologix offers a respiratory panel for 8 different diseases. You collect the swab with the material they provide or that you can get locally, and send it back to them for testing. Here are links:
https://www.zoologix.com/

https://www.vetdna.com/
 
UPDATE!
Baby chick is almost cured! Her treatment was a success, and she is doing so much better. She is no longer scratching at her eyes and is back to her regular chick business.
Thank you all for your help ❤️
 

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