Unsecure chicken perches

[den_the_cat]

I've been away for a couple of days and OH told me yesterday one of the girls had one eye shut. She's still the same today

 

She's very new - I got a batch of new girls 2 weeks ago but because one had a respiratory infection I swapped her - so Delia actually arrived on her own a week after the other new girls. For that reason she tends to get the odd peck from both older residents and the other new ones, and I think she's probably been pecked in the eye.

 

There's no swelling, pus or gunginess, she's happy and bright (although finding it a bit hard to judge distances between perches with only one eye!) and seems to be eating and drinking normally. She is a little jumpy when approached from her blindside but I think thats probably healthy.

 

So rather than take her to the vets I'm wondering if I should keep an eye on her and try her with a Uk version of Neosporin - which seems to be an over the counter antibiotic cream used by a lot of chicken keepers in the US. Does anyone know a UK substitute or have any success with a UK brand, to save me checking the ingredients on every tube at the chemists?

 

TIA

[chelsea]

Sorry to hear she is poorly.

 

We've had a couple of eye problems here and they have all required antibiotics from the vet (Baytril). If left some eye infections can lead to blindness so in my opinion with any eye problem it is best to seek veterinary advice to nip it in the bud.

 

I have never tried over the counter stuff with eyes - to be honest as it is a delicate area that you can't be too careful with.

 

In the interim bathing with cold tea could soothe the area.

[Sal119]

I'd definitely second Chelsea's advice. It certainly helped us when our little Lottie had an eye infection If it's no better with bathing then I'd get her to the vets for some Baytril.