Eye Injury

[Chicken Chaser]

Hi All,

I have some friends who own a RIR hen whose eye was injured. She was fine the night before, but the next morning her eye was 'pushed' in and and had a little scar under it. The eye itself is still there but she won't open it. Is there any possible way to treat it?

CC

 

[Marigold]

I would bathe it in warm salty water to try to ensure its clean, and then maybe isolate her for a bit so there's no chance of the others pecking it or making it worse. Then probably on Monday I would take her to the vet if no improvement. Superficial wounds usually heal quickly, but if the eye was pushed in, there may be deeper injury that would be of more concern. Also of course this may be very painful for the hen,

 

[Chicken Chaser]

How do you bathe her eye? Is there any specific salt I should add?

CC

 

[Marigold]

I would just make a fairly weak solution of ordinary household salt in warm water, get someone to help hold her, and gently bathe it with cotton wool or something like a rinsed- out and perfume- free baby wipe. Just to help soften and remove any gunk that may be there, not to do anything invasive.
Salt solution is a mild and safe antiseptic often used for bathing wounds in animals and birds.
And get her to the vet. If no improvement .Watch out for any lack of co-ordination that might indicate concussion or deeper nerve damage. There was a sad case reported on here recently where the injured bird gradually became unable to walk and eventually died.

 

[foxy]

Agree with Marigold. If the eye is "depressed" due to injury, she needs to see the vet ASAP, and the eye may need to be removed, pressure behind her eye on the optic nerve will be very uncomfortable. If the eye is not too bad anti inflammatories maybe need to prescribed.

Good luck with her and please keep us posted on her progress