Blind chicken

[BlindLemonChicken]

Hi everyone! I have searched the threads here and havent come up with a for sure answer so posting my own. I have had this Americana since she was six weeks old-she is over 2 years old now. She has always acted strangely, spinning in circles and generally confused. This summer I noticed that her pupils were very small so I figured that explained the spinning-she is at least partially blind. Shortly after that we had a raccoon attack and of course she got the worst of it. Since then she has been acting much less confident, nervous around the other hens. She has had a pretty rough molt this fall but has still been laying eggs. But I noticed that her eyes are very cloudy now. None if my other birds have this issue and I have bought from this breeder before. I am inclined to think (hope) its not Marek's but would welcome any opinions/advice!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Do you have photos of her eye before she was injured?

A small pinpoint pupil along with neurological symptoms - the spinning, confusion - could be an indication of Marek's. Hard to know unless you lose her and have testing/necropsy.

As for the eye now, to me it looks like blind. Maybe from trauma to the eye from the attack.

Some birds might still lay eggs during molt. To me she looks like she's been plucked from other birds instead of molting.

Check her over for lice/mites while you inspect her more closely to see if she's actually molting.

Watch to see that she's eating/drinking well. If she's really getting picked on, then separating her may be needed.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Do you have photos of her eye before she was injured?

A small pinpoint pupil along with neurological symptoms - the spinning, confusion - could be an indication of Marek's. Hard to know unless you lose her and have testing/necropsy.

As for the eye now, to me it looks like blind. Maybe from trauma to the eye from the attack.

Some birds might still lay eggs during molt. To me she looks like she's been plucked from other birds instead of molting.

Check her over for lice/mites while you inspect her more closely to see if she's actually molting.

Watch to see that she's eating/drinking well. If she's really getting picked on, then separating her may be needed.

I have separated her as of last week and she is eating and drinking just fine now. She wasn't before but I didn't see any of the other birds pecking her. I have made a lot of flock adjustments in the last six months and got rid of a couple birds that were picking on her. I don't know if the stress of all that made things worse. Probably. No mites that I've seen so I have been feeding her Kicken Chicken and putting electrolytes and vitamins in her water every other day (alternating with fresh). Her pupils were deformed looking-almost like drips? She doesn't spin in circles anymore, just moves her head from side to side. She seems happy alone but that seems weird to me. I don't want that to be her life although she has her own coop and little run

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I have separated her as of last week and she is eating and drinking just fine now. She wasn't before but I didn't see any of the other birds pecking her. I have made a lot of flock adjustments in the last six months and got rid of a couple birds that were picking on her. I don't know if the stress of all that made things worse. Probably. No mites that I've seen so I have been feeding her Kicken Chicken and putting electrolytes and vitamins in her water every other day (alternating with fresh). Her pupils were deformed looking-almost like drips? She doesn't spin in circles anymore, just moves her head from side to side. She seems happy alone but that seems weird to me. I don't want that to be her life although she has her own coop and little run

I dont have any photos of her eye before the raccoon attack. It wasn't cloudy though.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I have separated her as of last week and she is eating and drinking just fine now. She wasn't before but I didn't see any of the other birds pecking her. I have made a lot of flock adjustments in the last six months and got rid of a couple birds that were picking on her. I don't know if the stress of all that made things worse. Probably. No mites that I've seen so I have been feeding her Kicken Chicken and putting electrolytes and vitamins in her water every other day (alternating with fresh). Her pupils were deformed looking-almost like drips? She doesn't spin in circles anymore, just moves her head from side to side. She seems happy alone but that seems weird to me. I don't want that to be her life although she has her own coop and little run

I think you are doing what you can for her.

I understand it may seem a little odd that she's happy by herself, but she really may be.
She was getting picked on, some birds that are picked at don't get to eat/drink like they should...so now, she has her own space, doesn't have to worry about being picked at, she has access to her own food/water. Make sense? If she seems happy and content, then I would be happy for her, just give her some attention.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I think you are doing what you can for her.

I understand it may seem a little odd that she's happy by herself, but she really may be.
She was getting picked on, some birds that are picked at don't get to eat/drink like they should...so now, she has her own space, doesn't have to worry about being picked at, she has access to her own food/water. Make sense? If she seems happy and content, then I would be happy for her, just give her some attention.

That all makes sense. I do worry about her alone in the coop all winter. Its just a little thing, not insulated or anything. My mom suggested getting her a couple chicks so she would have company and they will grow up with her and not pick on her she has had success with this but I am hesitant in case it is Marek's ... Although I realize at this point all my hens would have been exposed. I got another pullet with her from the same breeder and it never showed any symptoms nor my other birds. Which makes me think its not Marek's after all. I am conflicted to say the least

 

[Wyorp Rock]

That all makes sense. I do worry about her alone in the coop all winter. Its just a little thing, not insulated or anything. My mom suggested getting her a couple chicks so she would have company and they will grow up with her and not pick on her she has had success with this but I am hesitant in case it is Marek's ... Although I realize at this point all my hens would have been exposed. I got another pullet with her from the same breeder and it never showed any symptoms nor my other birds. Which makes me think its not Marek's after all. I am conflicted to say the least

Where are you located in the world? What state? How cold?

She may be fine if you give her extra straw for winter.

She may tolerate a couple of docile birds housed with her, you can try. They do need to be old enough that they can defend themselves against her. Also have a plan, if it doesn't go well, then you have room for them with your main flock.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

We are in Utah so it gets cold enough to worry. I have wintered chickens in this coop before but I've always had at least 4. We are almost done building a second, much larger coop and run so if it doesn't work out I might be able to just put her in the new coop at night and move her in the morning. It would be a pain but I'm sure we've all done worse haha
I have a couple chicks that are about coop ready that I have been bringing out near her coop on field trips so I will let you know how it goes! Thanks everyone!

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

UPDATE: well I put Weezy in quarantine a few days ago so I could observe her better because she was taking so many naps (even on her feet it seemed like) and hardly eating. Turns out my poor girl has coccidiosis! I hope I didn't figure it out too late. For her treatment started today and will start treating everyone else soon. They are all moving to a new coop early next week so I am going to clean out the bedding but I wonder if I should wait to start treating the others until they have all been moved? Won't they just catch it again if they stay in the same run?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm glad you were able to find out more. What treatment did your vet recommend?

Is the new coop on new ground that they haven't been on before? It won't hurt to treat them for Coccidiosis when you move them, but generally adult birds should have resistance to the Coccidia which are found in their environment.