My chicken' eye was attacked

[Charlie_8018]

Hello to anyone that can help. Just this morning I went outside after letting out the chickens from their coop and found all my chickens hiding. One chicken in particular was hiding under the hose coil. We found that she had been attacked and had a little cut on her head, but her eye is the bigger problem. I can't exactly tell what is wrong with it but it is swollen and she can slightly open it. It is also 'oozing' out a yellowish clear liquid and I don't know if that is normal. As of now we have taken her inside and are keeping her warm with food and water. She isn't moving around much at all, but I'm pretty sure that is expected with any injured chicken. Please help, I need to know what to do with her eye, I especially love this hen, she is very sweet. (It's not coming across well on camera very well)

 

[Nomadicus]

Hello and Welcome to BYC. Glad that you joined this poultry loving community. So sorry you are having to go through this. Is there a rooster in the pen?

 

[Jenbirdee]

Hello, and I welcome you to BackyardChickens group. Hopefully, someone will come along soon who knows more about chickens than I do or possibly they can move your post to our emergency forums in the meantime with my ducks I would use some saline solution squirted gently on the wounds and the eye to clean it and then for the eye, I would use Terramycin ointment. It’s an antibiotic ointment. It’s usually made for dogs. It works great for almost any animal.

 

[Charlie_8018]

Hello and Welcome to BYC. Glad that you joined this poultry loving community. So sorry you are having to go through this. Is there a rooster in the pen?

So we actually did just find out there is a rooster, which was our first thought of who attacked her, but when we went out, all the chickens were hiding like they do if there is a Hawk out.

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello and welcome to BYC!

I am so sorry your bird is injured. I moved this thread to our Emergency forum for more help.

 

[DobieLover]

Welcome to BYC.

I'm so sorry you are joining under these circumstances. From what you describe, it appears she was attacked by a predator. If there is liquid leaking from the eye, she will likely lose the eye. Although, I'm sure, very painful, she will survive. Just support her with electrolyte and poultry vitamin/mineral supplemented warm mashes made from her normal feed to keep shock at bay and get her on the road to recovery. If you can carefully apply terramycin to the eye, I would do that once or twice daily. It will melt and ooze into her eye even if the lid is mostly closed. It will help prevent infection.
If it is any consolation, I have a one-eyed hen who is coming up on 6 years old. Her eye was damaged by one of the roosters. It took a few weeks to fully heal. She holds her own in the flock. She knows how to avoid getting pecked by the higher up hens and gives as good as she gets. She has no trouble eating or drinking but does need a little help hitting targets like taking raisins from my hand.

 

[Charlie_8018]

Welcome to BYC.

I'm so sorry you are joining under these circumstances. From what you describe, it appears she was attacked by a predator. If there is liquid leaking from the eye, she will likely lose the eye. Although, I'm sure, very painful, she will survive. Just support her with electrolyte and poultry vitamin/mineral supplemented warm mashes made from her normal feed to keep shock at bay and get her on the road to recovery. If you can carefully apply terramycin to the eye, I would do that once or twice daily. It will melt and ooze into her eye even if the lid is mostly closed. It will help prevent infection.
If it is any consolation, I have a one-eyed hen who is coming up on 6 years old. Her eye was damaged by one of the roosters. It took a few weeks to fully heal. She holds her own in the flock. She knows how to avoid getting pecked by the higher up hens and gives as good as she gets. She has no trouble eating or drinking but does need a little help hitting targets like taking raisins from my hand.

Is it guaranteed that she will lose her eye? It seems like it was a black eye sort of thing, but the liquid coming out was not very much.

 

[muddy75]

I hope you get the help you need.

 

[DobieLover]

Is it guaranteed that she will lose her eye? It seems like it was a black eye sort of thing, but the liquid coming out was not very much.

It's just my opinion, but yes, I think if it is oozing liquid it is a distinct possibility she will lose it. Just support her, apply the ointment and hope for the best possible outcome.

 

[Charlie_8018]

It's just my opinion, but yes, I think if it is oozing liquid it is a distinct possibility she will lose it. Just support her, apply the ointment and hope for the best possible outcome.

Okay, thank you.