CHicken (Chook for that Aussie lady) ????

[kimmee]

I have a chicken with an infected eye - actually the dog bit her head and it swelled right under the eye and she can't use the eye right now-- My question - should I lance it to get the yuck out?? I am used to lancing infected bits on the cats but I haven't ever done this with a chicken. How much Pain do you think they can tolerate?? will the stress be too much and kill her? Where might I find out - I tried the Garden web and I went to several other websites - they all basically have the idea that chickens are disposable - sorry this ain't an option!!

[forestdale]

Dog bites often cause disgusting infections. Try this site for some answers, some seem ok, some not so ok. http://www.the-coop.org/cgi-bin/UBB/...c;f=2;t=001443

I think it's probably a good idea to clean out any pus if you can do it without stressing her too much. Hens can be delicate and if you scare them enough they drop dead.
Maybe you could try to hypnotise her.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A583337

[kimmee]

Thanks Rhonda - That site actually had one poster recommend the lancing - didn't say anything about pain though - I think I will skip the Hypnotizing as I don't want her waking and BAWking while I am holding a scalpel to her eye!!