Blind chick? What is the cause?

[jessupfamily]

I posted this in another topic, but thought I could get more answers under this topic. I have a 1 day old chick with it's mama in the nest. It has one normal dark colored eye and one lighter cloudy eye. It sometimes stumbles slightly, like balance issues. And only when it is going to the left or looking to the left, which is the same side as the eye problem. Otherwise it acts like a 1 day old chick, maybe a little more reserved. It seems to be blind in that eye. What could cause this? It was definitely born this way. The mama doesn't seem to mind or even notice that something is different. Just curious if anyone might have any ideas as to what this is called and what may cause this? Thanks!
Amy J.

 

[robin416]

This might ring a bell with Diana, a cataract? I read something somewhere that described occurences of this happening.

Mareks causes blindness but I don't know if can happen in one so young. Genetics is another possibility.

 

[jessupfamily]

The chick has gone down hill pretty bad. I don't think it will be alive when I check next. It stayed really sleepy acting and just slept more and more. Now it has liquid (clear) coming out of it's beak and nostrils. Is all of this genetic maybe? No other chicks have this problem and they are all from the same roo and 2 different mamas. This one is definitely a black silkie and buff orp. mix. I sure would like to figure out what this is. Or if the eye and other problems are even related.
Amy J.

 

[silkiechicken]

Could be very easily a developmental defect that went unchecked when the chick hatched. Sorry about it's declining health.

 

[WindyOaksYokes]

I hate to say this, but I had a turkey with the same problem... he was unfortunetly blind... he lived for a good 4 weeks... and one day... he disappered. He did everything that you said your chick is doing (except the declining health) I do know that there is another person on here that does have a blind chicken... I will look to see if I can find out who it was and will let you know... maybe if you write her she can help you out.
Good luck...Tes

 

[WindyOaksYokes]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=14650 here is a link to one of her posts... it is southern28chick who has a little blind one... She is very nice and helpful... I'm sure she could tell you what to do... Good Luck

 

[dlhunicorn]

the runny nose and such says to me vit A deficiency (probably not the case of the blindness)...you can give three drops of POLYVISOL for a week and then taper off to deal with this...
As to what the exact cause is to the blindness... there are several candidates and sometimes it just happens on occasion... if you have a good supplement (like aviacharge 2000>availble to order online from McMurry or Strombergs) then give this to your chick in addition to the POLYVISOL... such a supplement should be in every first aid kit as with any kind of illness, stress or disease challenge you should give a supplement.

 

[jessupfamily]

Thanks for all the input, but the baby died.

I was giving supplements from the first evening, when it started acting tired. There was other behavior happening that I attributed to the blindness, that others here in my house said seemed neurological. It would stand leaned back on what I would call it's heels and sort of rock a bit. And every so often it would shake it's head (almost like a tic). Yesterday it wouldn't really open it's eyes to much, even when it would get up to move to another spot. When it did open them a little bit it acted like the light hurt them, but it couldn't see. It's mama stayed with it and never tried to hurt it either. I know sometimes a mama will either leave or kill a sickly chick. Thank you all again!
Amy J.

 

[Southern28Chick]

I'm sorry about your lil chick. I do have a blind pullet, she's almost 17 weeks old. She's completely blind, I think maybe she's sees a little bit of light but that's it. She had a hard start with being blind because she couldn't find food and water on her own. I almost last her at 4 days old but she's a fighter and she made it.

It sounds like your chick was really sick. I guess these things just happen sometimes. Just know that you tried to help her and she's not hurting anymore.

 

[WindyOaksYokes]

I'm sorry you lost your little chick... Wish there was something to say... but as Southern said... you did all you could and its not hurting anymore.
Tes