**UPDATE*** Sick chick with eye/beak problem-Help!

[ChickPeas]

This afternoon, I had my backyard flock of 12 (all 4-5 weeks old) out in their pen. I noticed one of the little bantams appeared to be panting.

I picker her up and discovered she was NOT panting, but that her beak was slightly open due to some swelling in her right eye.

Can chickens get impacted lacrimal ducts? Do they *have* lacrimal ducts?!

I've removed her from the others and added some Terramycin to her water. While she was outside, she was acting totally normal, wandering about, eating, drinking, doing her chicken thing. Right now she's upset she's alone.

What in the heck could be wrong with her? The only avian vet around here charges $110 office visit-not including exam, meds, etc.,

I just cannot afford that right now. My regular vet doesn't treat birds.

Can anyone help me out on this? I don't want the little peewee to hurt or suffer in anyway...it kills me to think she needs help and I can't give it to her right away.

TIA!

ETA: I spoke to a vet who know idea what this could be, but she recommended applying some cortisone ointment *around* the eye to help with swelling. I've done that...the chick, Francine, is resting. She also ate a teeny bit more. Poor little thing...I hope she doesn't get worse.

 

[silkiechicken]

Best of luck, hope it's not too bad of an infection.

 

[ChickPeas]

I decided to take the chick to a vet...who admittedly doesn't know much about chickens, but does treat birds. :|

The guy who I bought the babies from at TSC told me to give her Erymycin and let her drink some kerosene.

I've never heard of that. Someone here at work told me to flush her eye with boric acid. That sounds painful!!!

She seemed fine this morning-eating, drinking her Terramycin infused water, chirping. I haven't heard any sneezing or seen any signs of a respiratory illness.

I dread going home and seeing her.

I'm always so paranoid about my animals...I just expect the worst sometimes. I've been sitting here convincing myself that all my birds will be dead when I get home. un

Any ideas or suggestions? Could this be a sinus infection?

 

[Love my Critters!]

I definately would NOT do the kerosene or the boric acid ideas!! Boric acid can cause blindness and I can't imagine anything good coming from drinking kerosene.
Good Luck. I hope she gets better soon. I have a hen right now that I have been treating with Terramycin ointment in her eyes and powder in her water, for 4 days now. Her eyes were slightly swollen and watery with 'crusties' on them. She really isn't improving much though. You might try some terramycin eye ointment. I got mine from the feed store and the vet said to put it in her eyes 3 times a day.

How this was some help.

 

[ChickPeas]

Can you believe it? I can't imagine purposefully forcing ANY animal to drink kerosene! He did say it was an old wives remedy...whatever.

Unsure about the boric acid...a woman I work with used it on her kids..one coworker, a medic said the same thing. I dunno. I'd rather opt for warm water.

Thanks for the suggestion of the Terramycin...I'll let the vet know.

Thanks a bunch Love My Critters!

 

[ChickPeas]

UPDATE:
I took Francine to an avian vet on Friday...she thought the swelling was a sinus infection and took her in the back to drain it. She came back with bad news.

What she got out of the swelling was not pus but a tumour-it was the size of a large pea!!

She believes that Francine may have come in contact with Marek's. I had her euthanized.

I went by TSC to ask about how they ordered their chicks from Privette Hatchery. I was told they do not routinely order chicks that have been vaccinated. Just freaking lovely.

I doubt I'll be ordering chicks from them again. I'll make sure my next round of babies will be vax-ed. Which won't be for another YEAR, after the vet suggested I not do so bc of possible transmission.

So that's that. My little Francine is gone.

Thanks to everyone who replied with suggestions!