Eye Infection in a Chick

[Sneakychick]

Hi All,

I was hoping I could get some advice on how to save this chick. I bought her at 3 days old from a breeder and she seemed healthy, but after about a week I noticed she wasn't growing as fast as the others and that her right eye was swelling shut.

The wait lists for avian vets where I am are well over a month so I contacted everyone I could for help and an experienced chicken lady gave me a bottle of Clixocan drops. I put it in daily and after 3 days she was able to use the eye again and I thought we were good.

Unfortunately shortly thereafter, her left eye started swelling shut...I'm a beginner chicken owner and no one told me to medicate both eyes! I tried treating this one the same way, but it's been 4 days now and I can't even get the eyelids apart to medicate. The eyelids are super swollen which I know must be painful My mentor told me it would have gotten better if only I'd been able to get the eye drops in, but they are sealed shut now. Is there a trick to getting them open or are we past the point of no return? I'm not optimistic we're going to get vision back in this eye, but I know we need to get the infection under control...

 

[Tookie]

There is probably puss underneath the eye lid.

 

[LizGio]

I honestly don't know anything about it but I wonder if a warm compress with a soft wash cloth or paper towel would help loosen any gunk. Kind of like pink eye in people?

@azygous @Eggcessive @Wyorp Rock

 

[Sneakychick]

I was just talking to my mentor again and that's exactly what she recommended (she said do it 3x per day). I'm going to try that to see if I can loosen things up.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I was just talking to my mentor again and that's exactly what she recommended (she said do it 3x per day). I'm going to try that to see if I can loosen things up.

Sounds like you have it covered with your mentor!

Good luck

 

[Sneakychick]

Just wanted to update everyone! The compress worked. After about a day she was able to open the eye again and the swelling has gone down since I've been able to get the antibiotics in. Unfortunately I don't think her eyesight is coming back in that eye (it's hazy and glazed over), but at least she's more comfortable and has one good eye.