Eye injury, possible attack, 6 week old polish hen

[AFrownieFarm]

My 4 year old son just came inside to inform me that our little polish hen dolly was outside and it wasn't good. I rushed outside and found her wet and in shock she also has a bulge or swelling on her right eye. I have her inside with me warming up, I'm just a chicken Newby and I'm not too sure what to do.

 

[Eggcessive]

Do you think that she was pecked in the eye? Respiratory diseases can sometimes cause swollen eyelids and conjunctivitis or pinkeye. Can you see any bubbles or pus in the eye? Is there any nasal drainage, sneezing, congestion, or lethargy? I would clean the eye with a clean wet cloth, and put a small dab of either Terramycin eye ointment or plain Neosporin in her eye 2-3 times per day. Remove any pus or crust that forms around the eye.

 

[AFrownieFarm]

I've got eye polysporin and can go get the Terramycin later today.
I'm not entirely sure there weren't any predators around and her fellow chicks haven't shown any aggression.
No bubbles, no puss, just the swelling in the one eye and her shock and pellmell feathers. There is periodically like a ... Popping bubble sound when she breaths / shifts but it's not consistent.
She has always been the smallest of the group growing slowly and seems to get cold very easily.

 

[Eggcessive]

That sounds a bit like a respiratory illness. MG and coryza are the two that can cause eye swelling and drainage, but peck wounds or getting debris into an eye may also cause infection. MG is more common, and coryza smells bad. The terramycin ointment is better for the eye, but is not always available, so use the polysporin or a similar one if needed.

 

[AFrownieFarm]

That sounds a bit like a respiratory illness. MG and coryza are the two that can cause eye swelling and drainage, but peck wounds or getting debris into an eye may also cause infection. MG is more common, and coryza smells bad. The terramycin ointment is better for the eye, but is not always available, so use the polysporin or a similar one if needed.

Should I make sure she's separated? What should I watch for in the others? Is there any way I can prevent it ?

 

[Eggcessive]

I would only separate her if you think she is being bullied or you need to watch her closely, or need to feed her. They usually feel more comfortable with their flock, and may eat better. If she has a respiratory infection the others would have been exposed at the same time. Basically with respiratory diseases you would watch for sneeze or cough, watery eyes, runny nasal drainage, labored breathing, or wheezing.