This is a new one for me

[Chicky Babe7000]

Hi All,
live had backyard chickens for 10 years. I keep no more than 4 girls at a time.
I currently have two. Camilla is a partridge bantam Cochin and Fancy-Pants is a black Cochin.

A couple days ago Camilla was keeping her left eye closed and it looked a bit swollen. Today it’s not closed s much but is dilated.

These girls are both almost 6 years old. Camilla‘s behaviour is the same. Although I noticed she finds it hard to zero in on food So the one eye might be compromised.

Any advice?

Thanks so much,
Cindy

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Flush the eye out with saline and apply an eye ointment like Terramycin.
She may have gotten some debris in the eye, got poked or pecked or even scratched it (?).

You haven't introduced any new birds in the last 30 days have you?

 

[Chicky Babe7000]

Flush the eye out with saline and apply an eye ointment like Terramycin.
She may have gotten some debris in the eye, got poked or pecked or even scratched it (?).

You haven't introduced any new birds in the last 30 days have you?

Thanks! I can make saline out of water and salt ... ?
Would Vetericyn wound and skin care HydroGel work as well?
No new birds.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thanks! I can make saline out of water and salt ... ?
Would Vetericyn wound and skin care HydroGel work as well?
No new birds.

Yes, you can make your own saline if you wish.
Vetericyn is fine to use too.

 

[Valgal25]

Yes, you can make your own saline if you wish.
Vetericyn is fine to use too.

Having made saline a lot, advise you boil the water (to sterilise as much as possible) then add the salt & let it cool down in container in the fridge or freezer to room temp before using it, especially on eyes. Lots of simple recipes for saline explain the proper ratios out there.
Anything around the eye that looks like it might be injured?

 

[Chicky Babe7000]

Having made saline a lot, advise you boil the water (to sterilise as much as possible) then add the salt & let it cool down in container in the fridge or freezer to room temp before using it, especially on eyes. Lots of simple recipes for saline explain the proper ratios out there.
Anything around the eye that looks like it might be injured?

I've flushed her eye twice now. I can't see anything except a small purple spot on her top eye lid. Maybe a bruise?

I'll continue with the flushing.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I've flushed her eye twice now. I can't see anything except a small purple spot on her top eye lid. Maybe a bruise?

I'll continue with the flushing.

Could be a bruise - possible pick or poke to the eye. Were you able to find any eye ointment? You can use plain Neosporin if the eye swelling doesn't go down.