Help, please! Opened the coop this morning to an eye injury!

[Cerenity]

So, I let the ladies out of their coop this morning and one of my bantams (who is my most dominant hen) looks like she was in a scrap overnight. It could be the case that this happened before they went into their coop in the evening. I just did a head count before closing up the coop and did not look too closely.

She seems to be holding one of her eyes closed and she has a tuft of feathers sticking out of her head. Almost like porcupine quills or something, but, they are very clearly chicken feathers. She's opened the eye a few times and it looks fairly normal - no obvious signs of injury or swelling. She's also got a little dried blood around the corner of her beak, but, no obvious wounds. There's a local vet that sees chickens, but, he doesn't have an appointment until next Friday. She seems a little drowsy, but, is still pretty cranky when I pick her up, which is normal.

I've got her separated on her own - any thoughts on what to do? Should I try to pull those feathers out? (Bonus points: does anyone have any idea how those feathers got there?!)

 

[Eggcessive]

I would check for any open wound under the feathers, but leave them alone. It would be good to leave her separated in a cool area, and with food and water nearby. Open her eye if you can or drip some clean water onto her eye if there is any crust keeping it shut, and make sure the eye is intact. She probably will feel better soon, but watch to see if she is eating and especially drinking. Her beak could be sore, and he eye being closed my mean that you need to offer some water or watery chicken feed up to her beak in a small cup or bowl.

 

[Cerenity]

I would check for any open wound under the feathers, but leave them alone. It would be good to leave her separated in a cool area, and with food and water nearby. Open her eye if you can or drip some clean water onto her eye if there is any crust keeping it shut, and make sure the eye is intact. She probably will feel better soon, but watch to see if she is eating and especially drinking. Her beak could be sore, and he eye being closed my mean that you need to offer some water or watery chicken feed up to her beak in a small cup or bowl.

Thank you - she was drinking fine this morning, but, I will keep an eye on her. Also, I've looked under the feathers and I don't see any injury. No blood or open wounds or anything like that. So bizarre!