Eye is extremely swollen. What's wrong with it? :o(

[ewesfullchicks]

Your bird's eye really doesn't look that bad (and believe me - I've had experience of NASTY stuff).

Disclaimer: I'm NOT a vet, and you should consult your vet - my advice is not worth a hill of beans.

That being said....try flushing your bird's eye with a saline solution that you use for humans with contacts, and treat with ocular terramycin ointment that you can get from almost all well-stocked feed stores. That's what my vet recommends.

If it gets worse, or fails to respond - then you really need to see an avian vet. Good luck -- I'm close to the fourth largest city in the US, and still cannot get a chicken vet!

Rachel
Rosharon, TX

 

[NicInNC]

OK everyone. It's eye is completely swollen shut this morning. My veterinary isn't open. I'm so worried! I'm going today to see if I can buy that Terramycin and also VetRX. Do I just pry the eye open and put the drops in? What drops should I begin with?

 

[klf73]

I wouldn't pry it open....I would use saline to see if you can soften it. Your pic looks just like mine and I was waiting to see what you got for answers. Could it have been a trauma that you didn't see? I only know mine was a scratch because I saw a small scrape on her lid. Maybe it was the membrane that was traumatized? I was using drops that my infant had and they seemed to be working but she isn't always easy to catch and I already have 1 house chicken(frostbite victim that was lost for a week that I am trying to integrate back into the flock).

 

[NicInNC]

Just wanted to update...

I got the terramycin yesterday and began flushing the eye with saline solution and then applying the ointment. The chicken HATES me doing this! Anyways, this morning, it was still swollen, but not swollen shut. That's an improvement from yesterday. I did notice that it looks like there is something purple in color at the corner top of the eye (under the eyelid). I'm now wondering if maybe she did get pecked or something. It's hard to tell though because she just won't be still and freaks out when I try looking at her eye. Once again, there really isn't any discharge or odor and she's still acting completely normal.

I'm going to keep flushing the eye and applying the ointment.

 

[NicInNC]

Just giving a final update. Midnight's eye is COMPLETELY better. Not sure what the deal was. I just flushed it daily with contact solution that I had and then applied the terramycin 2-3 times a day.

Thanks to all who helped!

 

[Chickenmaven]

Great news!

 

[Renee]

I'm so glad you updated us. Good work!

 

[bwebb7]

Good Good Good!