Frozen Eyelid in Baby Chick!

[Nightbird1001]

I got my chicks 3 days ago and one of them can't open or close one of her eyelids. It is a little swollen but is not noticeable until you really look hard. When I touch it, it is impossible to move. I have been trying to wet it but it does not seem to be helping.
I will try to get a picture soon.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Could be a birth defect. Pictures may help.

 

[Nightbird1001]

The eye has clear discharge but the third eyelid works fine.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I would just wait and see. @Eggcessive , any ideas?

 

[Eggcessive]

I would use some Terramycin eye ointment from your feed store (ask a clerk for it) or plain neosporin ointment may work in a pinch, applied twice daily.

 

[Nightbird1001]

Ok thank you I will try that

 

[nightowl223]

I agree with the antibiotic ointment for its eye a few times a day. As long as the interior eyelid works, that should keep it moist and free from any crud buildup, and the ointment will help prevent any infection. Its eyelid may have a defect, one it may grow out of, but it's awfully hard to tell, even from a picture. If you have access to an avian vet, or a farm vet that will look at chickens, they should be able to tell whether it actually has a defect or not, and whether it will be a problem for it later on in life.

 

[aart]

Had a chick once with both eyes glued shut with 'hatch gunk'.
It was hard to tell because chick was black,
but I finally figured out why it would.not.stop chirping.
Some warm water wiping took care of it, no problems going forward.

 

[Nightbird1001]

There are really no bird vets here in Alaska. We have one clinic that accepts birds but I have found that, apart from some technical goboly gook, I actually know more than they do about how to treat the diseases and injuries. They don't even test for diseases, just take the symptoms and guess.