New Chick has injured eye/ How to introduce new chicks to brooder flock

[cornfamilyfarm]

We have 2 new chicks 2 days old and out of the incubator and into the brooder. We have noticed them pecking each others eyes and now one of the chicks won't open her eye? What do we do? Can we help her?

Second Question: We have another chick who hatched today 2 days later . Will it be a problem putting her in the brooder with them? Will they pick on her? Should we keep them separate but visible for a few days like we would if we were introducing them to the coup?

Any insight would be helpful...

 

[Eggcessive]

What type of brooder lamp are you using? Or are you using another source of heat? Red lamps can help to discourage pecking, but they have to be raised high enough to keep the temperature at the desired setting, and not too hot. I would use some netting or screen to make a barricade, or use a shoebox to separate the pecker or peckee. Just watch when you put the new one into the brooder to see that it isn't bullied. Watch the eye for drainage or crust on the eye, and clean with saline. Apply some Vetericyn eye gel, Terramycin eye ointment if there is sign of infection.

 

[cornfamilyfarm]

Thanks for the info. We decided to use sand instead of wood hips this time and I think she got a piece of sand in her eye. I used a wet qtip and brushed it over the closed eye and it opened and has been fine since.