Blind chicken

[Big_lilpeep]

Ooo
I have a little blind chicken here, the grey one in the middle. See how she’s standing up like that? Tail strait up in the air, neck kinda tucked inside and feet together. That’s how she stands all the time, she eats her food and leaves the coop with the rest of the chickens but then she just stands still. I’m new to chickens so I’m not sure what this means, if she’s doing it just because she can’t see? She walks with her tail feathers strait in the air all the time too. I just want to make sure she’s happy or if there’s something I can be doing more for her

 

[azygous]

You don't need to guess that she might be blind or even just assume it. You can test her vision easily. But restrict the rest of the flock while you do it.

Chickens have independently functioning eyes. The right eye is the one they use to find food and see things up close. Test this right eye by holding a treat up close but just behind the right eye. If she turns toward it and snatches it from your fingers without missing it, she sees normally in that eye. Repeat the test by placing a treat on the ground just in front of her. If she stabs at it several times before she nabs it, she may see, but see poorly in that eye.

Also watch her get onto the perch at night. She needs her right eye to judge the distance. If she has no problem seeing, she will jump up on the perch smoothly.

Take her outside. Stand off at least 30 feet from her and hold out her favorite treat. Call her. If she comes running and goes for the treat, she has no vision problem in her left eye, either.

What you assume is blindness could just be an quirk of hers.

 

[Mrs. K]

There is nothing wrong with her tail. Generally to a point, the hearing will compensate for the sight. If she is sticking with the flock, and is getting enough to eat, she is probably doing the best possible. I would hesitate on adding other birds to her, as she could easily be a victim.

 

[Big_lilpeep]

You don't need to guess that she might be blind or even just assume it. You can test her vision easily. But restrict the rest of the flock while you do it.

Chickens have independently functioning eyes. The right eye is the one they use to find food and see things up close. Test this right eye by holding a treat up close but just behind the right eye. If she turns toward it and snatches it from your fingers without missing it, she sees normally in that eye. Repeat the test by placing a treat on the ground just in front of her. If she stabs at it several times before she nabs it, she may see, but see poorly in that eye.

Also watch her get onto the perch at night. She needs her right eye to judge the distance. If she has no problem seeing, she will jump up on the perch smoothly.

Take her outside. Stand off at least 30 feet from her and hold out her favorite treat. Call her. If she comes running and goes for the treat, she has no vision problem in her left eye, either.

What you assume is blindness could just be an quirk of hers.

She is definitely visually impaired. She can’t see the perch to jump up at night, just this morning I watched her run right into a box that was outside at full speed. I’m not sure what to do to help her though she seams to be having a very hard time outside with the rest of the chickens as well

 

[azygous]

How about her right eye? Have you tested it with food?

Blind chickens usually realize their vulnerability and won't venture far from cover since they can't recognize danger coming at them from a distance.

Chickens with limited sight will adjust to it and get along fine, but you need to realize that letting her out to free range is inviting something to take her.

 

[Gene Kanten]

If you let her out to range I am very close by. My flower can not even jump up at night to roost but seems to feel safe in the bottom of a laying box. I hate that the rooster won't leave her alone for mating but she is managing. I do once a day give her feed with a fresh cracked egg and meal worm combined to make sure she is getting enough to eat.