Blind Hen

[Alex R]

Hi guys! Couple weeks ago my hen got injured by something. A critter I believe to some sort. Anyway, I scooped her up, put her inside and started treating her injury right away. I used Vetricyn Spay and Neosporin after cleaning the wound with a very diluted solution of betadine and water. Well today her scap and came of and has new feathers coming in so I decided to put her back outside. Onset her near the coop where the food and water is and let her be to reaccquaint herself to being back outside. That was around 11 my time and I went back out there later on, around 6 to check water and food cause it's really hot now in central texas. Anywhoo, I found her wedged between the fence and a bucket so I scooped her up and set her on the porch to go ish filling waters. I watched her before I continued filling up the waters and noticed that she wan into 3 different things. I grabbed her, found a flashlight and shined it in her eyes. Her left I dilated minimally. If you blink, you miss it. The other eye has no response. She is blind, and therefore I have brought her back inside. I had to show her the water and food. She drank the water heavily which tells me she hasn't drank all day and I feel bad cause I had No idea she was blind.

Anyway, will she ever lay again? I plan on setting her up outside and bringing her inside at night. Any tips? Similar stories? I posted pictures of what she looked like when I found her. I had No idea that she was/could have gone blind. She's an Amerucana and about a little over a year old.

 

[sylviethecochin]

Could she have a concussion of some sort? She might grow out of it, if this is a new thing.
In any case, she should continue to lay, but you're going to have to put in a lot of effort making sure that she is always fed and watered and on the perch at night.

I really hope this isn't permanent, for her sake, as well as yours

 

[chicks are life]

I know I wouldn't want to do this but she is kindda suffering I would mabey take in mind the dission of putting her down if it comes to it unless...you feed and give her water on a schedule and make sure she gets a lot of nutrients to heal properly I would keep her separate so the other don't pick on her. let's all hope its not permanent.

 

[centrarchid]

She can lay again although you will likely need to isolate her from other chickens. You will need to make so she can predictably find eats and water at levels needed to support egg production. She will not be able to clean up small particles, rather she will have to get food by plunging her bill into deposits of feed. Feed in pelleted form will be easier for her. She will switch over to exploring world by touching with bill and taste. Smell may also play a role.

She looks like a game hen.

 

[Alex R]

Her crop is nice and full right now, I'm currently holding her on my lap, which is when I think she feels most comfortable. I think um gonna take her to the vet when I get paid. See what the doctor has to say and see if she it will subside. But currently she just is doing okay.

I got her from ideal poultry, she could be a cross, but she lays green eggs, normally.

 

[Alex R]

This is her now. Fully content sitting with me

 

[Cluck-a-lot]

Hi, I thought you might like to know that I discovered one of my hens was blind when she was about 3-4 weeks old. She kept getting lost, so what I did was put her with a " friend" in a separate run . The friend was one out of the same batch, and turned out to be a rooster, but the idea was that she had bonding with another, and it worked!! The rooster took incredible care of her as they grew together ... even going back for her when she lagged behind.. also feeding her . It was very touching to watch the two dependent on each other. She got around really well simply by following his beeps and excited little noises . She and the rooster went to a great home eventually where they are both loved today.

 

[OG Anomaly]

Hi, I thought you might like to know that I discovered one of my hens was blind when she was about 3-4 weeks old. She kept getting lost, so what I did was put her with a " friend" in a separate run . The friend was one out of the same batch, and turned out to be a rooster, but the idea was that she had bonding with another, and it worked!! The rooster took incredible care of her as they grew together ... even going back for her when she lagged behind.. also feeding her . It was very touching to watch the two dependent on each other. She got around really well simply by following his beeps and excited little noises . She and the rooster went to a great home eventually where they are both loved today.

What a great story!

 

[OG Anomaly]

Hi, I couldn't open your pics to see, but am sorry your little one is having trouble.
Good luck and I hope she gets better!