Baby Chick born with really large eyes, is there anything I can do.

[lavandula girl]

What breed are your chicks? Some breeds have "lethal genes", which can cause bulging eyes in chicks when birds that are both carriers are bred. I think Cornish are one of the types that carry this. If they do get to maturity, I for sure wouldn't breed the 2 that were born this way.

 

[CTChickenMom]

People who are blind learn where things are, spatially. They keep their homes simple and know where things are from memory. It may take some effort but if this chick is kept in a run and hen house, s/he may learn, spatially, where the food and water is as long its kept in the same spot. They can smell after all. Likewise with a sleeping place. Put his spot way down low so he doesn't have to try landing on a high perch.

As long as the babe isn't in pain, its worth trying if you have the time. Its all about quality of life. If its just blindness and the babe is pain free, I'd try it.

Free ranging will prove disasterous since s/he won't be able to find their way home.

 

[welovechickens]

I am a softie, if it was my baby I would be trying to teach it how to eat, etc....poor little chickie! I can't stand to cull something just because it has a defect......and certainly not if the defect isn't painful.

 

[Mahonri]

Congenital deformity with prominent eyes or enlarged

This would be my guess.

It would be nice if you could keep it alive, I just have serious doubts that it will make it and it will most likely be a case of nature taking it's course.​

 

[hellomojo]

Quote:
That was my thought, I built a coop with little compartmentalized rooms for sick/hurt chickens and for hens and their babies. My plan was to have this one live there if it did make it. The chick finally got used to being fed and wouldn't fight with me any more; unfortunately it died this afternoon. I tried my best, but I think this one just was not meant to be here.

I could not and would not cull it if it was not in pain. But, I can't play God, this one just didn't pull through.

 

[Mahonri]

Sorry for your loss.

 

[welovechickens]

So sorry! It is always sad to lose a chick, even if you know it's likely to happen.

 

[CTChickenMom]

I'm sorry you lost the babe. I guess it wasn't ready for this world yet. It will go beyond the rainbow and start anew.

 

[dave3877]

Quote:
have you tried using red cell vitamins. its liquid and dissolves better than powder plus it has a yucca flavor to it. they use it for cattle and horses but its safe for chickens too

 

[CMV]

What happened to the second chick with one large eye? Did it die, too?
Sorry about your loss.