Sick Chick - need advice - pics attached

[chippa17]

Hi Guys,

This is my first time owning chickens.

We purchased 2 as chicks 3 weeks ago and they were both going great until a few days ago, i noticed one had shut her eye and would not open it.
I didnt think to much of it, until it started swelling.

It has been about 4 days now and I am really worried.
I have done a fair bit of research and it seems it could be one a few things.
I tried to put some warm salty water on there with a cotton bud as per some advice i read, but it seems to hurt her - so i stopped doing that.

Then I tried some eye drops on there which i read about also - this also seems to hurt her.
I am out of ideas and really worried about her - poor thing.

I have attached a few pics so you can see the closed eye and also the severe swelling.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again.

 

[AmberRex]

You know I've had a couple of chickens do this over the years and I haven't been able to find anything really to help it. From the vets I got some light antibiotic and for some this helped and it cleared up straight away and for others it took a bit longer so I would try this but the very first chicken I owned had this really bad and she died eventually.

I have always put it down to either an infection or cancer depending on how they respond to the treatment ( now I could and probably am entirely wrong on that point). All I can think of that you could do is maybe try a general antibiotic and make sure that she is drinking and if you can, eating. If she won't drink then take a small syringe and slowly drip it into her mouth so that she has time to swallow. If she isn't drinking then you could dilute a little food into her water, separate her from the others for a while and confine her to a small area ( but not too small) and try to keep her quiet.... Hope this helps! Let us know how she is getting on and keep the hope.

 

[chippa17]

Thanks for the advice Amber.

I have been closely monitoring her, as I am really concerned.
She seems to be eating and drinking OK.

I will see how i go with a general antibiotic.
I think the swelling is very painful as she does not like the warm saline solution.

I will continue to monitor her progress and hope it gets better soon.
poor lil thing

 

[AmberRex]

It's good that she is eating and drinking. I'd say that most chickens don't like warm saline, the only thing I can suggest on that note is to ensure that it isn't too warm and work on the premises that if you don't rinse it then it may become even more painful

 

[Judy]

I suspect the most common cause is that the eye got pecked. Some chickens seem to like to go for the eyes, especially younger chicks.

I would not give a systemic antibiotic. You could do more harm than good in the long run. You should be able to purchase opthalmic antibiotic ointment at the feed store -- it's a small tube but you should only need a tiny amount on the lower edge of the eye once or twice a day for a few days. You can also put brand name plain Neosporin ointment in the eye -- yours or your chicken's. IMO, one of these is the best approach. At least it is soothing rather than causing discomfort.

 

[chippa17]

It has gotten incredibly worse and i hate to say it but i might have to cull the poor thing.
Has anyone had to do this before and what is the best/most humane method?

Also will the other chick be OK without a partner for a few days till I can collect another one?

Thanks

 

[Bush Chickens]

If she isn't in constant pain,don't cull her just yet even if she loses the eye,she could still have a good life