10 week old Rooster blind in one eye

[soukilee93]

A few days ago my sweet little roo went blind in his right eye. He is compensating by turning his head all sorts of directions to see everything with his left eye. I am certain this is due to being pecked by another, slightly older chick and that it has caused damage to a nerve.

My question is, is there something I can do to maybe help with the nerve damage? If not, how long could I expect him to need to adjust. Putting him down is just not an option. I was hoping for him to be our new flock leader/protector, but with this injury I am not sure that will occur.

Here are some pics of him from age 7-8 weeks. He is a beauty!!

 

[Eggcessive]

What breed is he? He's at the cute gangly age like some of mine are. Can you post a close-up of his eye? I have had chicks do well after eye pecking injuries, but infections can set in. Neosporin ointment (or polysporin or terramycin) helps with infection. There are other eye problems to think about--Mareks disease can cause blindness, and eyeworm can cause itching and scratching of the eye and looks like a milky substance in the eye. Most of the time, I think chickens get used to their handicaps with a little time.

 

[soukilee93]

What breed is he? He's at the cute gangly age like some of mine are. Can you post a close-up of his eye? I have had chicks do well after eye pecking injuries, but infections can set in. Neosporin ointment (or polysporin or terramycin) helps with infection. There are other eye problems to think about--Mareks disease can cause blindness, and eyeworm can cause itching and scratching of the eye and looks like a milky substance in the eye. Most of the time, I think chickens get used to their handicaps with a little time.

He is a cross of a Blue Wheaton Ameracauna and one of the multi-Color EE's the guy has that we got him from.

There is no obvious sign of injury to the right eye. It looks perfectly healthy, just does not focus or anything when he blinks or if I put my finger in front of it he does not move from my finger or anything. There is no obvious sign of injury anywhere on him. I have seen the chick that we have, a RIR, that has pecked the hell out of some of the chicks in the group. Two days ago though, I went out in the morning and he was like this.

He is not scratching at it or anything like it might be an eyeworm. I am just thinking it is from a strike from this chick. She has been separated from the rest of them along with the buddy I got with her.

If it is Mareks, shouldn't there be other signs? And also, I cannot remember, is there any form of treatment if it is?

Right/Blind eye


Left/Good eye

Here are some additional pics to show you what he is doing to compensate for the bad eye. He will be 10 weeks on Sunday.

 

[Eggcessive]

Here is a link to much information on Mareks disease: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/mareks-disease-fact-site

 

[BantamLover21]

Hmm... You could be right; it might be because he was pecked by another bird. Or, as Eggcessive has suggested, it might be Marek's disease. However, from what I can see by looking at the photos, the blind eye's pupil is neither greyish or irregular. Therefore, Marek's is a bit less likely, as those symptoms (discoloration/irregularity) are symbols of that disease.

As long as he doesn't appear to be suffering (eats well, isn't in pain, etc.), I don't think you will need to put him down. He will probably eventually learn how to compensate for that one blind eye.

Best of luck!

Oh, and he is beautiful!

 

[Eggcessive]

Your latest pictures clearly show a bit of swelling in the affected right eye, so you are probably correct about the pecking.