Hamburg chick is keeping one eye closed

[Artie]

My beautiful little Citron Hamburg, about five weeks old, I've had her for less than a week. She seems pretty normal except that she keeps her right eye closed most of the time. It looks normal when it's open, but that doesn't happen very often. Anyone know what this might indicate? Thank you.

Artie

 

[Pele]

It could be she's accidentally banged her eye and she's suffering from a chicken version of a black eye. I had a chick once who hopped and bolted and flapped her way around the brooder a lot until she bopped herself good. She spent about 2 days emulating a pirate, but eventually recovered with no permenant injury.

Also, there's a possiblity that chickens have similar symptoms for strokes as humans.

 

[Artie]

That's really good to know. Do chicks that young have strokes? Oh my, another thing to worry about...

 

[zengrrl]

I had my silkie chick develop some kind of an eye infection. I cleaned it out with saline solution and applied an eye antibiotic. I happened to have some from my own sty in the eye. You're going to have to seperate her from the rest if you think thats what it might be. Its contagious of course. My weakest chick came down with it also and didn't pull through. I've heard of people using neosporin NOT THE ONE WITH PAIN RELIEVER but the eye antibiotic is best if you can get it. Just a small bump in the road.

 

[fzouk]

I wish I had something useful to tell you about the eye but instead I was just popping on here to say that I really miss my Hamburgs. I had Silver Spangleds and there were no better chickens for tick eaters, and also I never saw prettier chickens in my life. I had to get calmer breeds eventually because my Hamburgs were so partial to roosting in trees they kept getting eaten so I sold the remaining ones to a guy who had an enclosed run. I sure miss them though! I hope your little one's eye will heal!

 

[Artie]

Thanks everyone. Honestly, the eye doesn't look infected. It's not tearing up or looking goopy or anything. I tend to think maybe she did bonk it -- perhaps when I was transporting her home last weekend. I didn't look at the chicks carefully when I picked them up at the breeder's. I guess I should have so I would have known whether she had it then or not.

fzouk - thanks for your kind words. She is extra special to me because she is the survivor of the pair of Citron Hamburgs that I bought. The other one died two days after I got my chicks home, and I was heartbroken. My birds will be in an enclosed run, so hopefully I'll be able to keep her from predators.

It's funny how attached you get to these little creatures....

Artie

 

[Artie]

Update: She's not doing any better.

I've had her home almost a week and I don't see improvement. I have heard you can put Neosporin on the eye, is that right? Could I also use BCP Triple Ointment Treatment? I don't like that bluish look...