Sticky eye? Infection?

[KARy408]

Anybody know what's going on here?

7 week old Indian runner duck. We just noticed this today, though I had thought the feathers around her eyes were growing in weirdly/slowly for awhile now. My husband says this is some kind of puss/discharge, but it looks more like bedding stuck on her face to me?
She's the only one of 9 ducklings that appears to have this. They are all outside in the run during the day now and have access to several pools and deep water vessels. I've noticed the runners don't like to swim as much as the WH's and Pekins. Should I throw her in one of the tubs to make sure she can dunk her head?

 

[Amiga]

Please don't toss her into water. I have Runners, and some just are not big bathers.

She likely got something in her eye that is either still there, or perhaps scratched on the way out.

I would bring her in and give her a two gallon pot with lukewarm water and two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to wash her head in. If she doesn't start right away, I would put a small handful of peas in the bottom to tempt her.

I would mist the eye with mild saline solution or Vetericyn spray. Vetericyn also makes an eye gel, but with skittery ducks (three of my Buffs are like that), the spray is easier to get onto them. I would do that four times a day for the first three days.

If it has gone beyond a surface problem she will need oral or injected antibiotics. A vet is best, but you can get things at feed stores.

 

[KARy408]

Thanks @Amiga!

On further inspection, it does appear she has small pieces of wood chips stuck to her face, around both eyes. They were dry and hard, so I took her over to one waterer and dunked her head a few times and it does seem to be better now. I'm about to run to town so I'll pick up some ACV and try the warm water mix later today.

When spraying the Vetericyn, how do you avoid getting it directly in the eye? Or is that not a concern?

 

[Amiga]

This is from the Vetericyn home page
Vetericyn Wound and Skin Care Products are Based on Innovative Technology

Vetericyn is a family of animal wound and skin care products that are safe to use on all animals. They are non-toxic, steroid-free, antibiotic-free, and do not contain alcohol or tea tree oils. Vetericyn is safe to use around the eyes (with intact cornea), ears (outer and mid), nose and mouth. Vetericyn has been shown to be effective on livestock cats, dogs, horses, and even exotic animals like birds, snakes, rabbits, lizards, gerbils and more. Vetericyn has been shown to help with hot spots, scratches, skin rashes, skin ulcers, cuts, burns, post-surgical sites, irritated skin, cleaning the umbilical & navel, cleaning and debriding of animal wounds, sores, lacerations and more. Vetericyn is an immediate-acting one-step wound and skin care product for animals. Vetericyn doesn’t harm healthy tissue and is safe for use on all animal species of all ages. Vetericyn is environmentally friendly and is proudly made in the USA.
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At the same time, since I am not a vet, you may want to just use a saline spray made for the eyes - that should work quite well. Vetericyn does make an eye spray.