Pecked Eye? Infection? - New to the Chick Life

[jaymejojos]

Hello - new to raising chicks. We recently got a batch of chicks - all healthy and eating well. Noticed just today that one of the Polish chicks now has a matted eye. They are just about 1 week old. Just one eye is matted - she's eating and drinking fine. I haven't noticed any excessive pecking or bullish behaviors from the other chicks but can't rule it out.

We will have them on medicated starter feed in a day or so (our local feed store was out of the medicated bags so we had to get un-medicated to begin with). Should I be worried about infections or respiratory stuff?

Any suggestion of how to treat the eye? So far I've tried cleaning it with saline but the matting doesn't seem to be getting any better.

Thanks!
Jayme

 

[Eggcessive]

Welcome to BYC. Where the chicks come from--a local breeder, a feed store, or afrom a hatchery? I would continue to clean the eye with warm saline gently, and apply a plain antibiotic ointment to the eye such as Terramycin, Triple Antibiotic or Neosporin ointment, twice a day.

 

[jaymejojos]

Thanks. We'll clean it again tonight and apply some antibiotic ointment. Hopefully it'll clear up. Also decided to separate her from the rest of the chick in case it is a possible pecking injury.

In other news - this incident has helped us figure out a name. Blinky.