Help! Chicken with closed eye, what do I do?

[Sunny-Side Up]

Just barely I went out to check on my chickens and noticed a problem. My Barred Rock's left eye was closed. Sometimes she would open it, but I think it hurts to do so. There's no swelling or other problems, just the fact that she's keeping it closed. I'm sure it will be fine, but I definitely don't want to take chances. I've had a lot of bad experiences with goats to learn that it's better to notice the small things (even if it means embarrassing myself about a tiny thing on BYC) than to let it grow into a big problem. You never know if it's an everyday scrape or some deadly disease. After all, prevention is better than cure.
Anyways, it has been very windy today, so I'm assuming that she just got something in her eye. It is a possibility that she got pecked in the eye, but I think it's the former. She's 17 weeks old (so close to getting eggs!!!). On that line, do you think she'll lay soon based on her comb and wattles?
Thanks! (And please don't think I'm overreacting...)

 

[Sunny-Side Up]

Her good eye:

Her closed eye:

 

[Shezadandy]

If you have something like terramyacin if you've ever had an eye problem - I think Vetricyn makes an eye product- worth a call to the feed/farm supply store to verify if they carry it- I've even seen posts where people add a little Neosporin (original, no pain relief) or triple antibiotic cream. If there's no swelling and no obvious debris, chances are it will clear up in a couple of days.

 

[oceansunset73]

Never want to mess around when it comes to the eyes.

I made the mistake of thinking my Production Red Mocha just had something in her eye after a windy day so I ignored it. Until a couple of days later, she became lethargic, puffed up, tail down and then she stopped eating and stopped drinking. I had to take her to the vet. Turned out she had a corneal ulcer and had to be treated with antibiotics. I'm thinking she probably got pecked in the eye. Several months later, her eye is still not 100 %, she can see motion out of it but that's about it. I'm not sure if she will ever be able to see like she use to. I keep thinking if I did something sooner it wouldn't have been as bad as it was, for as long as it has been. Horrible lesson learned.

I would try using Vetericyn, or something similar. Just to be on the safe side. Don't play the wait-and-see game with the eyes.

 

[Sunny-Side Up]

Thanks for your replies

If you have something like terramyacin if you've ever had an eye problem - I think Vetricyn makes an eye product- worth a call to the feed/farm supply store to verify if they carry it- I've even seen posts where people add a little Neosporin (original, no pain relief) or triple antibiotic cream. If there's no swelling and no obvious debris, chances are it will clear up in a couple of days.

I don't have anything specific for chicken eyes, but I do have triple antibiotic cream. How would I use that?

Never want to mess around when it comes to the eyes.

I made the mistake of thinking my Production Red Mocha just had something in her eye after a windy day so I ignored it. Until a couple of days later, she became lethargic, puffed up, tail down and then she stopped eating and stopped drinking. I had to take her to the vet. Turned out she had a corneal ulcer and had to be treated with antibiotics. I'm thinking she probably got pecked in the eye. Several months later, her eye is still not 100 %, she can see motion out of it but that's about it. I'm not sure if she will ever be able to see like she use to. I keep thinking if I did something sooner it wouldn't have been as bad as it was, for as long as it has been. Horrible lesson learned.

I would try using Vetericyn, or something similar. Just to be on the safe side. Don't play the wait-and-see game with the eyes.

I'm sorry about your hen. Hopefully that won't happen with mine!

 

[townchicks]

I would start by flushing the eye with some sterile eye drops, you can get them OTC (like for dry eyes). Wait for a few minutes and see if that helps.If it seems to help, continue flushing it every once in a while. Don't put anything in the eye that is not made for eyes. If she isn't better in the morning, consider a vet, if you can. If you can't, you can then try to get something made for eyes.

 

[Sunny-Side Up]

I would start by flushing the eye with some sterile eye drops, you can get them OTC (like for dry eyes). Wait for a few minutes and see if that helps.If it seems to help, continue flushing it every once in a while. Don't put anything in the eye that is not made for eyes. If she isn't better in the morning, consider a vet, if you can. If you can't, you can then try to get something made for eyes.

Would this work? It's all that I have at my home.

 

[townchicks]

Yes.

 

[Sunny-Side Up]

I just gave her eyedrops, though I'm not sure how effective it was since she kept on moving and shaking her head.
Does anyone know how I can use triple antibiotic ointment?
Thanks for all your help!

 

[Sunny-Side Up]

Uh oh... I just checked on her and it appears that there's a yellowish bump on her eyelid. See the pictures above compared to this one...

I'll check on her again in a few hours and see if it's worse. If it is, I might go to the store to get eye stuff.
Please help!
@Wyorp Rock
@coach723
@sylviethecochin