Welp, this sucks... Just figured out my grandson's Silkie is blind. >.<
I'd noticed a couple of weeks ago she was acting strange, staying in the coop and not going out with the others. I brought her to my daughter, who commented on her keeping her eyes closed a lot. She seemed to be better the next day so I put her back, but a day later I brought her in to my own place and she's been here since.
Today, since it was nice out, I took her and her Bantam Cochin buddy (who is also being cared for at my place) out for a bit of supervised free-ranging. I have 30 ducks of various breed (mostly Muscovy), as well as two Lavender Orpington pullets, a Silver Laced Polish cockerel, and a Blue-Laced Red Orpington rooster, plus my daughter's and grand-son's Silkies and Bantam Cochins. We all live on the same property, but I'm the main livestock caregiver.
I placed the two pullets down, and the Cochin immediately started going around and exploring. The Silkie stayed put, hunkering down in place. Okay, I thought, she's just a bit freaked. When the other birds came to investigate, Cochin reacted as a normal chicken would. Silkie remained in her spot, not even seeming to notice any of the other birds and only flinching when one nipped at her out of curiosity. I watched a bit longer, then decided to put her in a run way from the others. She backed herself up against something solid (the fence) and remained there. That's when it dawned on me.
I did a few tests (bright lights, from my camera flash, no reaction, finger coming in slowly, no reaction, food and water in front of her, no reaction until I tapped her beak and then she would eat and drink). I don't know how this happened, she was fine before she started hiding in the coop. Only thing I can think of is she got pecked in just the wrong spot on her head. No, her 'hair' isn't too long and doesn't get in her eyes. Her head does wobble a bit, and she isn't up and about like a chicken usually is. From everything I've read, this is most probably permanent.
So, long story short, how do I set things up for her to lead a happy chicken life?
Sorry if this is in the wrong forum, it's the only one that seemed to fit.
I'd noticed a couple of weeks ago she was acting strange, staying in the coop and not going out with the others. I brought her to my daughter, who commented on her keeping her eyes closed a lot. She seemed to be better the next day so I put her back, but a day later I brought her in to my own place and she's been here since.
Today, since it was nice out, I took her and her Bantam Cochin buddy (who is also being cared for at my place) out for a bit of supervised free-ranging. I have 30 ducks of various breed (mostly Muscovy), as well as two Lavender Orpington pullets, a Silver Laced Polish cockerel, and a Blue-Laced Red Orpington rooster, plus my daughter's and grand-son's Silkies and Bantam Cochins. We all live on the same property, but I'm the main livestock caregiver.
I placed the two pullets down, and the Cochin immediately started going around and exploring. The Silkie stayed put, hunkering down in place. Okay, I thought, she's just a bit freaked. When the other birds came to investigate, Cochin reacted as a normal chicken would. Silkie remained in her spot, not even seeming to notice any of the other birds and only flinching when one nipped at her out of curiosity. I watched a bit longer, then decided to put her in a run way from the others. She backed herself up against something solid (the fence) and remained there. That's when it dawned on me.
I did a few tests (bright lights, from my camera flash, no reaction, finger coming in slowly, no reaction, food and water in front of her, no reaction until I tapped her beak and then she would eat and drink). I don't know how this happened, she was fine before she started hiding in the coop. Only thing I can think of is she got pecked in just the wrong spot on her head. No, her 'hair' isn't too long and doesn't get in her eyes. Her head does wobble a bit, and she isn't up and about like a chicken usually is. From everything I've read, this is most probably permanent.
So, long story short, how do I set things up for her to lead a happy chicken life?
Sorry if this is in the wrong forum, it's the only one that seemed to fit.
