Week old faverolle chick with one very enlarged eye and eyelid

[meg_warriner]

Hello, I have a 1 week old faverolle chick with a severely enlarged eye and eyelid. She came as a “bonus” ornamental chick from McMurray along with the 24 Australorps that I ordered. I am an quite experienced with chickens and their medical/physical conditions and have never seen anything like this before. I thought that it was an infection because the Ausie girls were pecking at her so I began applying Terramycin to the eye. The swelling went down some after 2 days and now the eyeball is cloudy with a concentration of cloudiness in the center. I assume that if the chick survives she will be blind. I just don’t know if this is some thing that is treatable or if it is contagious. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated.
(Photo is attached)

 

[Eggcessive]

The eyelid may be swollen from pecking. The cloudiness may be infection or trauma. Terramycin is very good for eyes. Plain Neosporin can be used as well. Clean the eye with water and a soft cloth or saline eye wash before applying ointment, and do that 2-3 times daily. Chicks make do okay with only one sighted eye, but I hope that she recovers.

 

[meg_warriner]

I think that I have figured it out. Very little information Is available online but I think that she has hydrocephulus... Apparently this is common in Faverolle chicks. I’m sure that if this had been noticed at the hatchery she would’ve been culled. I can’t find much information as to morbidity and survival rates. They all seem to perish (eventually) due to seizures. It’s sad because she will be such a pretty hen and she is SO sweet. I have her in a insulation brooder in my bedroom so she is getting a lot of attention and care.