Antibiotics for suddenly blind pullet?

[jenn-]

It has become apparent that the pullet I have been tube feeding since Friday is now completely blind. She has been on Corid since Friday and Safeguard dewormer since Saturday. I think she started going blind Wednesday (she was being beaten to the tossed blueberries), but I'm not really sure. I don't see any redness or swelling and there is no sinus drainage. Should I try an antibiotic in case it is an infection somewhere?

 

[GitaBooks]

Here are some helpful links on blindness in poultry:
https://poultrykeeper.com/external-problems/blindness/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/700230/blindness-in-chickens

I hope she gets better soon!

 

[jenn-]

Here are some helpful links on blindness in poultry:
https://poultrykeeper.com/external-problems/blindness/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/700230/blindness-in-chickens

I hope she gets better soon!

Thank you for your reply. She is getting stronger health wise, but she still isn't eating on her own (been tube feeding since Friday). I took her outside for some physical therapy and that was the first time she really walked around a bit in several days. Then she must have felt the sun because she stopped and plopped down and did the "sunning chicken" pose. I let her sun for a few minutes before I prodded her to get moving, this was PT after all. She needs to make an effort to eat on her own or I know people are going to be looking at trying to convince me to put her down.

Their coop is very well ventilated. They are only in there at night and they all sleep in front of the big window for right now (deep south means hot nights). My only guesses are disease or something that sprung up in their bedding in the run. We have been ridiculously wet this summer and I am wondering if they picked up a mold or something. I just spent the afternoon cleaning out the run bedding. Now I have to figure out what the heck I am going to put in there.

 

[GitaBooks]

I had a chick with brain damage that I had to force-feed for a little while. I used some wet cat food, scrambled eggs or wheat bread soaked in water. I would take little bits, pry her beak open, and place it far back on the tongue. She would then swallow. Eventually she learned to eat on her own.
I've heard of chickens learning to eat even when blind, so don't give up yet!

 

[jenn-]

I had a chick with brain damage that I had to force-feed for a little while. I used some wet cat food, scrambled eggs or wheat bread soaked in water. I would take little bits, pry her beak open, and place it far back on the tongue. She would then swallow. Eventually she learned to eat on her own.
I've heard of chickens learning to eat even when blind, so don't give up yet!

I looked at another one of my birds today and I'm thinking that I am dealing with something much scarier then a randomly blind chicken, I think we have marek's. I'm going to assume that if the one I think has the grey eye forming isn't my overactive imagination going, then the odds are that my lady's blindness is also due to it.

 

[GitaBooks]

Marek's is scary, but some flocks live with it there whole lives without showing symptoms. Here is a good link about marek's: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq

 

[jenn-]

Marek's is scary, but some flocks live with it there whole lives without showing symptoms. Here is a good link about marek's: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq

Thank you for the link. I spent a good hunk of time digging through it.

 

[jenn-]

I think whatever is going on with my Zebe is starting to effect another one.