Blind chick

[traceytwits]

My broody silkie Tilly hatched four eggs a week ago I was at work and when I got home my son and daughter had brought a poor little chick in and put her in the brooder. She was on the opposite side of the coop out of the nest and looked dead, she was icy cold but lifted her head when my daughter picked her up. She warmed up and began to cheep and walk around then we noticed she didn't have any eyes bless her. I imagine mummy hen realised that she wasn't perfect and kicked her out of the nest so I didnt want to try and put her back with the others in case it happened again. We put one of the other chicks in the brooder to keep her company and she started to eat. The next day her head and neck were odaematus I think Tilly must have injured her when she threw her out of the nest, anyway a week on all the chicks are doing fine and Lucky as we have called her is eating well and appears happy in the brooder with her little sister Flute although she hasn't mastered drinking from the drinker yet and we are giving her drinks with a dropper. I know some of you would suggest culling her but my chickens are pets and I would not be able to do it also now she has has come this far I think she deserves a chance. I heave read as much as I can find about raising blind chicks but any suggestions of how to make her life easier would be greatly appreciated

Tracey x

 

[winekntrychicks]

My heart goes out to you and your baby. She will always be a special needs chick. You may always need to keep her from the rest of the flock as she will maybe always be on the bottom of the pecking order. I suspect if she goes back into the main flock population they will pick on her. I had a blind silkie and she could not find her food very easy. She was not always blind that i know of; seems to have happened over time. Then I noticed she began to stand in the corner by herself. I left her in the coop with the others for awhile and would check frequently to see how the others behaved with her and they all bullied her. After about a week I brought her in the house with me so I could observe even more closely. Thats how we discovered she was blind. Good luck with your baby. I love silkies. I get so attached to them. We have over 40 chickens now. Not all silkie though.

 

[traceytwits]

Thanks for your reply, she seemed ok for a week was eating and taking water from the dropper but clearly not thriving, then one morning the chicks were snuggled together but little lucky had died. Mother hen knew best all along:roll the good thing is Tilly accepted the other chick back in her brood and the remaining three are all doing well,