Eye Gone... guess we'll name this one "Blinky?"

[jeffdubya]

Went out to the coop today to find one of my Americauna pullets being picked on pretty mercilessly. Haven't seen any aggressive behavior like this before. Looks like she may have actually lost an eye.

Separated her from the GP, wondering what steps to take next. I hope euthanizing isn't necessary.

Input appreciated.

 

[Eggcessive]

Clean the eye off if dirty or bloody with saline or warm water, and apply Terramycin eye ointment from the feed store, or plain Neosporin or Bacitracin ointment to the eye twice a day for a week or so. They get a lot of swelling from eye injuries, and they have a whitish third eyelid that protects the eye, so it may be hard to tell if the eye is intact for 4-5 days. My polish hen got pecked in the eye, and I was convinced the eye was gone, but a week later it reappeared in there. Later though it looked like she was blind unfortunately. She gets lost once in a while, but can see with the one eye to get around on her own to free range. If she gets out of the fenced yard, she can't figure out how to get back in, but she was never the brightest little thing.

 

[jeffdubya]

How long should she be kept out of the general population? I can put her in a brooder while she heals.

 

[Eggcessive]

I did not separate my hen. She wasn't being picked on, and she seemed to act normally. If yours is being targeted, you could cage her inside the coop for protection, or use your judgement. I don't like to separate if possible, because they get picked on more when they come back.

 

[jeffdubya]

So I went out today, and could not any of the three products you mention. Arg. Plus, the few things that they did have (not on your list) were 30 bucks and up. Sorry, the economics of chickens prohibit me from going there. Can I use an OTC product like neosporin? Or would I be better off using nothing, and just letting nature run her course?

She did continue being pecked at, so I felt I had no choice to separate her until she heals.

Washed her injuries good with betadyne and warm water.

Any idea what prompted this? Have NEVER had a chicken issue like this previously.

 

[Eggcessive]

I'm sorry, but I meant neosporin (not neomycin.) Neosporin has 3 ingredients, two of which are neomycin and bacitracin. So sorry for the confusion. I'm with you about the prices out there, and I try to recommend things that are easy to find and that you may already have. Is there any way that you could cage her inside the coop and run where they can still see each other? She may get clobbered again when she comes back after a long absence. There may be a bully that needs to be put in chicken jail for a week or so. I hope she does okay for you, and the eye heals.