[Westcoast]

The eye is closed and quite swollen, I have checked in the eye but cant see any foreign bodies there, I have bathed it with sterilized water and wonder if there is anything else i can do help her,   (drops / cream?) any help welcome.

WC

[Exbattmad]

Hi WC
You will need antibiotics for the eye. Eye infections dont usually clear up without them and the infection can spread to the sinuses without them.HTH

[Westcoast]

Many thanks for your help, a trip to  the vets as soon as i can get an appointment then, anythink i should be doing in the mean time.

WC

[Exbattmad]

Try to keep it as clean as possible and wipe away any discharge with a piece of kitchen towel being careful not to wipe it on her other eye or nostrils, until you can get a vets appointment. Try not to worry as antibiotic treatments are very effective with eye infections and usually clear it up.

[Westcoast]

No discharge showing at the moment,  just closed and alittle swoolen.

Many thanks for your help.

WC

[Foxy]

excellent advice exbattmad

[73Westboy]

I have a chicken with an eye infection following a scratch to the eye. It got progressively worse and I was reluctant to take to a vet as the costs would not make my small holding economical. My chickens aren't pets as such and I'm sorry if this offends some readers.

I searched the internet and found out that Braytril was good for treating eye infections in chickens, but this can only be prescribed by a vet i.e there is no other way of getting this antibiotic unless you pay the vet's fees, in my case £26.50. I spoke to the vet on the phone (without having to pay any fee) and he advised me to try a Chlorophenicol based eye drop, typically used for humans! I was able to buy this from a pharmacy for £4.01.

I have used this now for 4 days and have seen a dramatic improvement. I started applying a couple of drops every 3 hours for the first two days and then reduced this to morning, noon and evening. So far so good.....

I'm not saying this is for everyone's chickens, but it certainly is helping and the hen can now keep her eye lid open and the eye is now looking a lot healthier.

Hope this helps.

[Aunt Sally]

That's excellent advice and information 73Westboy 

No offence could possibly be taken by your post as although a lot of us are pet or show chicken keepers or breeders we know that it is not possible for all keepers to rush to the vet's with every problem.  You have done well by your bird and saught advice and followed it with good results.  I'm certain if the chook ha not responded you would have done the best for her and not allowed her to suffer.

I'll keep Chloramphenicol based eyedrops (like Optrex) in mind should mine ever need tham 

[Exbattmad]

I agree with Aunt Sally.
Thanks for sharing that useful info with us westboy.

[Westcoast]

Many thanks for that Westboy,
 
I have been cleaning the eye with diluted Optrex and there is a slight improvement.

Fingers crossed for an appointment with the vet on Tuesday.

WC

[73Westboy]

Hi, further to my original post, the hen has made a full recovery and she's fighting fit. The eye drops I used certainly worked. Good luck Westcpast and let us know how things turn out. Best wishes.