[Miss Bean]

One of my girls has a rather large swelling just under her eye. It's large enough to cause her eye to close to just a slit… kinda looks like she's just done a round with Mike Tyson! 

Otherwise, she seems quite well: the eye isn't weeping, she's feeding, drinking, laying just like normal.

Should I do something, or just wait for mother nature to sort this out?

[karlooben]

hi , i take it u have had a really close look she may very well have a splinter or other foreign object in there , wash her eye with damp cotton wool if poss but do it very gently an see if this can make her better if this doesnt work then u will need to pop her to a vet .

i have found that wrapping them in a towel works well if the bird doesnt like to be handled to much . hope its nothing seruios

[Foxy]

mother nature might struggle to sort it out.
Couple of things you could do to help her along though
Wash her eye in tepid salty water to cleanse, wipe one way only though, dont rub. Have a look inside her beak, can you see any "cheesy" hard substance there?
Check whether she feels hot, any runny discharge from her eye or beak? Sometimes they rub the beak under their wings so you might see a sticky residue there. If there is an infection  an antibiotic called Baytril may be prescribed. Consulltaton and meds should cost around £20 on average.
Finally, check for any trauma, she still may need antibiotics if there is any damage there. Check your coop and run for any sharp edges, chicken wire, etc. Give the coop a good clean and disinfect. Make sure any bedding is dust extracted and finely chopped straw not hay used in nestboxes.
Hope this helps!

[Miss Bean]

thanks for the advice, much appreciated. I've been out all day so haven't been able to make a really close inspection, although my husband says she was running happily around the garden with the others!

Will report back tomorrow…

[Miss Bean]

Well… I can report that the swelling is getting larger and I have bathed the poorly eye with tepid slat water as the hen roosts. There doesn't seem to be any discharge, or any puss either around the eye or under her wing. I can't see if there is anything stuck into the skin around her eye… it's a mystery.

She's been running around the garden quite happily, eating, drinking and pooping normally!

 

[woodside farm]

Try wiping the eye with cold tea on cotton wool, seperate piece for each eye, works a treat 

Michelle xx

[Miss Bean]

cold tea! 

[woodside farm]

Yes cold tea, it works well on all animals and humans for conjuctivitus (spelling ) try it 

Michelle xx

[Foxy]

sounds like an infection in the sinus under the eye, and most likely will need a course of antibiotics. Baytril would be effective and you shouldn't expect to pay more that around £20 - £30 including consultation.
In the meantime some ACV and garlic in the drinking water will help
Also have a quick check in the beak just check whether you can see any cheesy substances or lesions.