Blind baby chick

[Chickengene]

Anybody deal with born blind chicks?
I have a week old chick that I am strongly thinking may be blind. My problem is my wife has now tried to rescue the baby instead of allowing nature to run its course.
I see no real future for this bird that does not involve him and myself inextricably joined at the hip for the rest of his life. Can I let him roost with the rest of the flock? I know he will never be able to free range with them without me being close by.
I am already invisioning his own smaller coop; probably in the house if That Lady has any say; and his own run... Oh my this is looking more and more like a nightmare. Please someone tell me you did this already and it was a piece of cake worked out that the bird lived a long apparently happy life.

 

[Steven Bussell]

Happy wife Happy Life

Sounds like a new boat in your future if you take care of this chick

 

[Chickengene]

Happy wife Happy Life

Sounds like a new boat in your future if you take care of this chick

I have been putting L'il Bit, back into the dog crate, in the coop, every night with momma and the siblings. When I let the flock out at dawn I watch for any sign L'il Bit may be a chicken. So far I have to bring it back in the house feed and water it, then put it in the other crate inside. The whole feeding it ever hour is destroying my workday.
I have convinced the wife to allow me to sneak the whole kit n caboodle into the brooder coop tonight while they're asleep. I am hoping to leave the whole family in there for a few weeks, like we did with store bought chicks. My hope is that L'IL Bit will learn where the food and water is and can stay in there even after the rest are reintegrated with the main flock.