Eye infection?

[Backyardexplorer]

Hi all, could anyone shed some insight on what they believe might be wrong with my chicken’s eye? It seems that her ear also seems swollen on the infected side. Looking for guidance on how to treat!

 

[alinas2010]

Sorry to hear about your chicken’s eye. She may have been pecked or gotten some debris stuck in the eye and it got infected. The infection could’ve moved to the ear. Or the opposite could’ve happened. It’s hard to say.

The eye looks a bit crusty, if it is sealed shut, use a warm compress to loosen the crust. Try to open it and check that nothing is stuck in it. Maybe you can see a peck or puncture mark? Check the upper and lower lids for pus or debris. You will need to remove both if found. Flush with some saline. If you have or can get terramycin ointment apply to the eye twice a day. It is found at most farm supply stores. If you can’t, triple antibiotic ointment without pain relief, such as neosporin, will work, although terramycin is the ointment of choice for the eye.

For the ear, you can use peroxide to flush it. Let it bubble in her ear for a minute. You can then gently use Q-tips to try to remove any debris or pus that the peroxide flushes up from the ear canal. After that is done, apply triple antibiotic ointment without pain relief to the ear and ear canal twice a day.

Keep an eye on both the eye and ear for any more swelling and additional pus that will need to be removed. Let us know how she does.

 

[Backyardexplorer]

Sorry to hear about your chicken’s eye. She may have been pecked or gotten some debris stuck in the eye and it got infected. The infection could’ve moved to the ear. Or the opposite could’ve happened. It’s hard to say.

The eye looks a bit crusty, if it is sealed shut, use a warm compress to loosen the crust. Try to open it and check that nothing is stuck in it. Maybe you can see a peck or puncture mark? Check the upper and lower lids for pus or debris. You will need to remove both if found. Flush with some saline. If you have or can get terramycin ointment apply to the eye twice a day. It is found at most farm supply stores. If you can’t, triple antibiotic ointment without pain relief, such as neosporin, will work, although terramycin is the ointment of choice for the eye.

For the ear, you can use peroxide to flush it. Let it bubble in her ear for a minute. You can then gently use Q-tips to try to remove any debris or pus that the peroxide flushes up from the ear canal. After that is done, apply triple antibiotic ointment without pain relief to the ear and ear canal twice a day.

Keep an eye on both the eye and ear for any more swelling and additional pus that will need to be removed. Let us know how she does.

Thank you SO much for your response! We ordered the terramycin!

I applied a warm compress to her eye tonight and flushed with saline. Upon opening her eye lids I noticed her actual eye ball is now flesh colored and does not look like an eyeball. I’m not sure what that means, I hope we did not wait too long to help her. There were no puncture marks and I saw no debris upon flushing.

Again, I appreciate your response and helpful information more than you know!

 

[alinas2010]

Thank you SO much for your response! We ordered the terramycin!

I applied a warm compress to her eye tonight and flushed with saline. Upon opening her eye lids I noticed her actual eye ball is now flesh colored and does not look like an eyeball. I’m not sure what that means, I hope we did not wait too long to help her. There were no puncture marks and I saw no debris upon flushing.

Again, I appreciate your response and helpful information more than you know!

You’re so welcome. I’m not sure what to make of that either. If you can get some more pictures of her eyeball, please post them. Could it be her nictating membrane that is swollen and irritated maybe? Or maybe it is tissue swelling around the eye?

 

[alinas2010]

In the meantime, while you wait for the teramycin, do you have neosporin or another ointment you could use?

 

[RoseTeas]

Thank you for the pictures.

 

[Eggcessive]

It really looks like like she was pecked or run into wire fencing after being chased. I would use the plain triple antibiotic, bacitracin, or Neosporin until you can get Terramycin which is not always available. Ask your feed store clerk, since it is locked up. The lower eyelid looks beige, and though her eye may be damaged, I hope that in a few days, the eyeball might still be there.

 

[Backyardexplorer]

It really looks like like she was pecked or run into wire fencing after being chased. I would use the plain triple antibiotic, bacitracin, or Neosporin until you can get Terramycin which is not always available. Ask your feed store clerk, since it is locked up. The lower eyelid looks beige, and though her eye may be damaged, I hope that in a few days, the eyeball might still be there.

While I didn’t notice any puncture marks upon cleaning, I saw our rooster grab her by the neck (twice) a few days before I noticed her eye. There is the possibility that another aggressive act happened that I did not see. I also hope she still has an eye in a few days. Starting treatment tomorrow, thank you for your response!

(Rooster has now been separated from the flock)

 

[Backyardexplorer]

In the meantime, while you wait for the teramycin, do you have neosporin or another ointment you could use?

Yes, I will start with Neosporin in the AM!

 

[alinas2010]

How is your chicken doing?