Bantam Rooster with pecked eyes

[monica_youngblood]

Four weeks ago we were gifted 10 chickens - 1 Bantam rooster, 1 Bantam hen, 8 full size hens (Rhode Island Reds & Red Rangers). We had them in a makeshift coop to let them get acclimated to our place. Then the next week they gave use their remaining 3 (1 Bantam rooster & 2 Silver Wyandottes). They said they all got along so we put them in the same coop. Two days later we found the older rooster beat up and turned them all out to free range. The older rooster's head was very bloody and both eyes swollen, but didn't see any other damage. I've been doctoring him as I found online and he seems to be doing pretty good concerning what happened. We have him in a mini-coop by himself. He has just started trying to eat on his own and I have yet to see him drink. I go out several times a day and hold him to put his beak in a bowl so he will drink. I have his food in an open low sided bowl and his water in a shiny pie pan thinking maybe he could see a glimmer of it. I also have put him in the garden (it is fenced) so he can get some dirt. He just mostly lays down. My question is how long until his eyesight returns? At this time he is totally blind. I can put my finger right beside his eye and he doesn't flinch. Light/shadows don't phase him. I know he will not be able to return to free range, but still feel bad about his quality of life and am wondering if he needs to be put down. Thank you for any advice.

 

[Thunder344]

Can we see pictures?

 

[monica_youngblood]

Can we see pictures?

Yes, let me go take some. Just a moment.

 

[monica_youngblood]

He would not keep his right eye open long enough to get a good picture, but it is very black. It went clear for a little while then back black. His left eye has some color almost like a normal eye

 

[Thunder344]

Poor boy!! You think the other roosters pecked him?
@azygous @Eggcessive

 

[gimmie birdies]

I had a wonderful rooster, "Zippy" who was a bantam EE rooster. I hatched out 2 other roosters with him that were full sized. He was my favorite, and my hen's favorite. The other 2 roosters got jealous and also beat him up bad (pecked his eyes.) They had gotten along so well that I didn't think it would end bad in this manner. I put poor Zippy down, and gave away one rooster, and put down the other rooster. I still have roosters and some times all together, but now I am careful to keep the really nice ones and rehome, or put down a mean one.

On a good note, I did hatch an egg from Zippy and a silky "Marilyn", Their baby "Baby gaga" was at first I thought a mean rooster, and I thought sadly I would have to put her down, but...she laid a pretty dark green egg. And when I realized her being mean was actually her wanting attention, I gave her love, and she loved me back.

 

[Eggcessive]

The left eye appears blinded. The right eyelid is very swollen. I would apply some Terramycin eye ointment to his eyes after flushing them with saline eye wash twice a day. If you can get a picture of the right eye open, it would help. I would hold water up to his beak in a lid or small cup all during the day. Poultry NutriDrench 1 ml daily could be helpful. Try feeding some wet chicken feed, and scrambled egg bits.

With a blind rooster, it could survive in familiar surroundings, with food and water kept in the same place. But he would be targeted by another rooster, and possibly the hens with his handicap. I would apply some plain Neosporin ointment on the neck wound until it heals.

 

[monica_youngblood]

Yes.

Poor boy!! You think the other roosters pecked him?
@azygous @Eggcessive