Blind Chick

[cmchickens]

I just received a shipment of chicks from McMurray Hatchery. One of the chicks, a Cornish X, appears to be blind. It won't open its eyes. I'm assuming it has eyes, but its head is shaped a bit funny so who knows. It can cheep and walks but in a strange low and stretched out manner.When I dip its beak in water it drinks. I couldn't get it to eat chick feed, so I mixed some with water until it was soupy and it seems to eat that just fine. It doesn't seem to be suffering, so I'd like to save it if I can. It is currently in the brooder with 27 other chicks. Should I separate it? I considered carrying it around with me so I could keep it more comfortable. But maybe it would be best to leave it with the other chicks? Also, how often should I offer the chick water and food? So far it hasn't been able to find the feeder and waterer on its own. Is there anything else I should do for it to help it? Thank you for your input.

 

[Mountain Peeps]

These birds are very hard to raise but it is possible. I raised a blind chick once too. What I did was I got him to recognize sounds. His water was in a metal container and his food was in a plastic container. I would tap the one I wanted him to come to. At the begging I had to tap it and then dip his beak. But after a few days all I had to do was tap it and he came running over like he wasn't even blind! Yes, leave him with the others but know that you may have to feed him separately. Take all this slow and I'd love to help you as your baby grows.

 

[cmchickens]

Thank you. How often should it eat? It was hatched on the 14th, so its 2 days old. I'm used to chicks eating when they're hungry on their own, so I'm not sure how often I should give it food. Every hour? 2 hours? Round the clock or just during the day?

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Thank you. How often should it eat? It was hatched on the 14th, so its 2 days old. I'm used to chicks eating when they're hungry on their own, so I'm not sure how often I should give it food. Every hour? 2 hours? Round the clock or just during the day?

I fed Ray (that was his name. Short for Ray Charles! LOL) every two hours I think.

 

[Doodle777]

I have a blind chick that is 10 weeks old. She is a beautiful partridge cochin. At about 3 weeks I had to separate her From the rest but there was another one who was tiny, so I put the two of them together. They were both getting picked on. They are best girlfriends now! I found it best to keep them in a smaller area and always keep the food and water in the same place. I made sure she ate and drank every two hours but after showing her for a few days where her food and water was, she started to find it on her own. I also have different textured things on the wall, so she can tell where she is. She is the sweetest thing ever. Loves to be held. He favorite is to lay out in the sun. She will always need a little extra special care but it's so worth it to me.

 

[Mountain Peeps]

I have a blind chick that is 10 weeks old. She is a beautiful partridge cochin. At about 3 weeks I had to separate her From the rest but there was another one who was tiny, so I put the two of them together. They were both getting picked on. They are best girlfriends now! I found it best to keep them in a smaller area and always keep the food and water in the same place. I made sure she ate and drank every two hours but after showing her for a few days where her food and water was, she started to find it on her own. I also have different textured things on the wall, so she can tell where she is. She is the sweetest thing ever. Loves to be held. He favorite is to lay out in the sun. She will always need a little extra special care but it's so worth it to me.

Awww! She sounds precious! Ray loved the sun too!

 

[Doodle777]

She is so special to me! How old did Ray live to be and was he born blind?

 

[Mountain Peeps]

She is so special to me! How old did Ray live to be and was he born blind?

Yes, he was born blind. I'm sorry to say that once I left (he lived at my grandparents) he died as they didn't continue how I was raising him. So he was only about 3 weeks old.