We've had several "handicapped" chickens throughout the years, including crossed beaks, chicks that never grow, and blinded eyes. Currently we have a hen with limited vision in one eye, a rooster with an eye that is blind, and a duck with limited vision in both eyes. But I think Pirate is the most special.
Pirate is a Barred Rock chick that hatched about a month or two ago. We realized as soon as we brought her inside that she literally was missing an eye. Her beak was also slightly crossed. I was worrying that she just wouldn't make it.
But today Pirate is a happy, friendly chick. She is the only chick that keeps running after me for several yards after I walk away. She doesn't seem to realize that she's blind or cross-beaked, and gets along just as well as any of the others, though she has a slight difficulty drinking and doesn't always see things that the others do.
Here is Pirate's good eye. You can see her slightly crossed-beak in this one.
And here is her... uh... no eye.
Pirate is a Barred Rock chick that hatched about a month or two ago. We realized as soon as we brought her inside that she literally was missing an eye. Her beak was also slightly crossed. I was worrying that she just wouldn't make it.
But today Pirate is a happy, friendly chick. She is the only chick that keeps running after me for several yards after I walk away. She doesn't seem to realize that she's blind or cross-beaked, and gets along just as well as any of the others, though she has a slight difficulty drinking and doesn't always see things that the others do.
Here is Pirate's good eye. You can see her slightly crossed-beak in this one.
And here is her... uh... no eye.