Blind Hen Not Doing Well

[australorpluvr]

I have a nearly 2 year old Black Austraulorp hen, Juno. About a month ago, we realized that she may suffer from partial blindness in both eyes (Reason unknown still) and its caused several issues we don't have solutions for yet.

Feeding:
Our feeding system is a pest proof bucket with 3 large head holes that give access to pellets from sun up to sun down. While Juno had her vision, this was no issue. Now.. its starting to become one. I've not personally witnessed her actually eating pellets from this container since her blindness occured, coupled with her slight weight loss.. its not a stretch to say she's reduced her feed intake.

We use shallow, stainless steel dog dishes to give them treats sometimes. The reflective surface seems to attract what sight she has left- enough for her to eat whatever's in the bowl. Occasionally, we will separate her out and feed her solo in the dog dishes so she's not competing for her food. However, this isn't a long-term fix, and I was looking for some suggestions. Note: Her depth perception seems to be the biggest issue, so hunting around for tossed-out pellets isn't an option

My idea so far is a wall mounted goat feeder. Pros- she can eat easily. Cons- Open to pests/ bugs at night, the other hens can also eat out of it and potentially crowd her.
I'm gone from 8am-4pm Mon-Fri so hand feeding her daily is just not feasible. I need a system that ensures she knows where food is and can get it without much trouble.

Roosting at night:
The second issue is the perching at nighttime. They go up into their coop at night and have 3 perch bars to pick from. The bars are basically directly above their heads (Photos attached below), and they have to fly up and land to get on them. Now I haven't liked this setup (for any of my hens, not just Juno) since we got the coop and went to the expense of building a huge extended run attached to it, but it's the only place they are ensured safety from predators at night.

The last couple nights, Juno has tried to fly up and hasn't been able to make it on the perches. She seems to get nervous or anxious and just gives up and requires human intervention via being hand placed on a perch. I do go out every night to make sure their automatic door closes and they are all inside- but I don't want to risk her getting injuried from this janky system.

I'm not really sure what to do about the perch situation, any insight would be helpful. Even if its bulding a new system for them- I'd be willing to do it for her to make sure she is comfortable.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

With limited sight, she needs to have a bowl that she can eat of so she doesn't suffer malnutrition.

Providing a bowl as you have mentioned is a good idea, place or hang in the same place every day so she knows where it is.

Since you go out at night and make sure the door is shut, just grab the food container off the fence, etc. and place it in a metal trash can, bucket, etc. with a tight fitting lids so rodents can't get into the feed.

Sure, the others may eat the food too so you'll have to adjust the amount you put out to ensure she's getting enough to eat. With another hen or two eating with her, she may actually eat better, it's hard to know.

As for roosting. With that setup, it may be hard for her to navigate and I'm not sure what can be done to correct it. If they don't use all those nesting boxes, block one off and place a lower roost that she can get onto or just use one of the spare nesting boxes for her to sleep in, changing out bedding as it gets soiled. She may feel more secured sleeping on the floor/in a nesting box.

 

[australorpluvr]

Thank you for your insight, I'll try to figure out a way to lower one of the perch bars if I can.. your idea of blocking off an eggbox might work since they all love to pile in one out of the four

 

[coach723]

I currently have two blind birds. One may still be able to see very bright light, but it's not much if any, the other is completely dark. I have put them in a separate smaller run that is inside my main run. There is a door to outside to a small fenced run for them, but at this point they don't really go out anymore as they can't find their way back in. I separated them out because as their sight got gradually worse I was finding them 'stuck' in random places around the run, not able to find their way anymore. So the smaller space makes them much more comfortable and less stressed. Food and water is always in the same place, on stable platforms (concrete blocks) at chest height, so they can find it and it's easier for them to navigate, open dishes are easier for them to hit than sectioned feeders. They have a large plastic (airline) dog crate with shavings that they sleep in, which is also always in the same place. No roosts, no ramps, no stairs. No places they can get stuck in. They can still hear and smell all their flockmates, and both will join in egg songs with the others who are laying. They are 100% safe from predators, roosters or other flockmates, because they cannot see them coming. They also holler at me when I go out to do chores, to come bring them something good. When I have growing out chicks old enough to leave the brooder, I put them in there as well, and both of the blind hens really seem to enjoy that and will try to tidbit the chicks and talk to them and sleep with them. I always move the chicks out to the main flock before they are old enough to be a problem for the blind ones. So it can work, making some allowances for what they can and can't manage.