Eye problem in 19 wk old pullet

[PennysHennys]

One of my chicks did not come out of her house this morning and as I observed her she had her left eye closed! The right eye was just fine. No crusts, bulging, or drainage but she seemed confused. I left to get the hospital cage and when I returned she was out in the pasture under a cart they like to stay under for shade. I caught her and applied a warm wet cloth to her eyelid after which she briefly opened her eye which appeared bright and shiny. I do not see any injuries. She is isolated from the others until I can determine if she is sick.
My guess is SOMEBODY poked her in the eye last night as they were jockeying for roost positions and she is sore. She voluntarily opens that eye occasionally but only briefly.
My plan is to watch her to make sure she is drinking, eating, pooping. We are already good on the pooping part!
Any suggestions for care would be appreciated!
Thanks

 

[coach723]

I'd use sterile saline or veterycin eye wash to flush out the eye well, and get a really good look to make sure that nothing is in there, dirt, debris, etc. If you think there is infection you can use terramycin eye ointment, which is usually easy to find at most feed stores, tractor supply, etc. If it's just a peck and no infection it will probably resolve, just keep an eye on it.

 

[PennysHennys]

If it is just a peck, should I continue to isolate her? I wasn't sure if the others would peck at her closed eye? They generally get along well.
Thanks!

 

[coach723]

If you have a wire crate then I would put her in that inside the run with the other chickens so they are all still together and can see each other, with her own food and water, but can't be injured. That is usually less stressful and makes reintegration easier. If it's an injury then only as long as it takes for her to recover enough to hold her own with the others and not get hurt or kept from food and water. That also makes it easier to monitor her for eating, drinking, droppings, and any developments with the eye, and see if there are any other symptoms that crop up. That is assuming it's injury rather than illness. If you suspect an illness like a respiratory infection, then isolating away from the flock might be better, though if that were the case they might all already be exposed.

 

[PennysHennys]

Thanks for taking your time to reply! Hoping for a good outcome. She is one of my favorites.

 

[MissChick@dee]

Hoping it’s just a poke too. Gotta hurt remember last time you got poked in the eye?

 

[PennysHennys]

Thanks MissChick@dee. She is back with her tribe in her cool place - still winking