Eye injury

[Buffmama]

Hi all, yesterday my daughter noticed a problem with one of her girls eyes. She said everything was fine the night before, but the next morning her one eye was not right.


^^^Injury

^^^^Normal eye


In this pic she is not able to completely close her eye. DD just said it looks more like a flap of skin now. Will try to get another pic later. In the mean time any suggestions of what may have happened? There wasn't any blood, so not sure. She is in quarantine to keep the others from pecking and to keep her from scratching. Thank you.

 

[Eggcessive]

There looks like a bruise from an injury around the eye that could have caused the swelling. I would watch it, and if there is any crusty eye drainage that develops, then clean it with saline and apply a plain antibiotic ointment to the eye. If she starts showing any signs of a respiratory infection, then post back here again.

 

[Buffmama]

 

[Eggcessive]

That really looks like it has been injured since the last photo--either by her scratching or by another chicken pecking her. I would place her in a pen or crate with the other chickens, and provide food and water while you treat her eye.

 

[Buffmama]

We had her separated from the other girls for 3 days. When we let her join her sisters she got on the perch and one of the girls was feeling helpful and plucked the skin flap off. Well, Sarah brought her to me and I cleaned her up, put triple antibiotic ointment on it. She spent a couple more days in confinement. I put ointment on 3x daily. She looked much better and rejoined her sisters. All's good again. Thank you.