orpington with a sore eye

[kbs_05]

my orpington hen has a sore eye its pretty swollen and she cant open it. ive cleaned it a few times with salty water but isnt getting any better any advice would be great.

 

[chrismahon]

We have had this a few times with Orpingtons Kbs_05. The last time it was a very tiny piece of feather, but we have had pieces of grass seed and cockerels after either walking into something or fighting. The worst hen went to the vets and was sedated so that she could have a really good look. Couldn't see anything at all, but flushed the whole lot and the hen was fine. Danger is if infection gets a hold as loss of an eye will result. It is difficult, or even impossible, to look properly with the bird fully conscious so I would recommend the vet with all haste. Salt water is the way to go normally, but clearly it isn't working this time.

 

[kbs_05]

thanks for the quick reply my friend who is a vet is going to look at her tonight but he dosnt have much experiance with chickens but the nearest poultry vet is in morpeth 4 hours away.

 

[chrismahon]

Your friend will be fine. A quick sniff of gas, just enough to calm the hen not knock her out, should give enough time. Our vet did warn us that there is a risk of an adverse reaction, but you can't leave an eye in that condition so its a risk that must be taken I think and that's what our vet thought as well.

 

[kbs_05]

he just flushed her eye out and put powder in it and it does look a bit better.

 

[chrismahon]

Fingers crossed then Kbs_05. Please keep us updated.