Newly Hatched Chick Eye Stuck Shut

[KeelyO]

Hi there! I'm new to this forum! I have a quick question: I have a chick that I had to help out of it's shell after 24+ hours of no progress. It seem to be doing ok, if a bit crusty. The problem is, it's eye is crusted shut. when I "helped it out" the membrane had dried to it and I had to carefully soften it and remove, but the eye hasn't opened. I have petroleum jelly and triple antibiotic cream, can I put one of those on the eye to soften it up?

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

Just use a qtip and warm water.

 

[KeelyO]

Just use a qtip and warm water.

Thank you! it's body is pretty crusty too, should I try to give it a bit of a "bath" with a warm wet cloth? I hate to get it wet again, it's been out of it's shell in the incubator since last night.

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

Thank you! it's body is pretty crusty too, should I try to give it a bit of a "bath" with a warm wet cloth? I hate to get it wet again, it's been out of it's shell in the incubator since last night.

If you do blow dry it completely dry. It's hard on the chick so think about if its worth it now to improve its quality of life or if it can wait a couple days until the chick is stronger.