blind peahen

[johnskoi]

i have a white peahen who i'm pretty sure has just gone blind.... i had 5 whites (3, 2-4 yr old hens, 1, 4 yrold boy and one 1 yr boy)that were being picked on earlier in the breeding season, so i separated them and moved them in with my silkies... decent sized area..the other two hens are sitting on eggs (joint nest) , this hen can't (doesn't )jump the 2 ft divider -- i just thought she was staying in the one area because she wasn't 'allowed' to sit on the eggs w/ the other 2....

this morning she looked exhausted, so i picked her up (easiest catch i ever had), while talking softly to keep her calm, i felt her to see if she was eggbound,, not eggbound, but very thin -- i brought her to the waterer, held her as close to level as i could as placed her beak in the water, she drank well without a fight... after some hand movements on each side of her face, i had NO reaction until i made contact ... clean bottom, no nasal discharge or runny eyes... i got some bread, rolled it into dough balls and force fed her a little to try and give her SOMETHING in her gut...

i'm pretty sure the future is bleak --- while i can forcefeed her indefinitely and keep her separated if the others turn mean, i'd rather not if it's a cruel existence ... input from anybody who's gone thru this and the results would be greatly appreciated.... if there's something i can do , i want to....

i doubt that there's a wonder drug, or anything that might be helpful, but i'd greatly appreciate the advice...thankses

 

[KsKingBee]

We have had a couple of blind chickens, they would walk around using their beak like a cane feeling in front of them. They would also find food and water by the sound of the other birds eating. I think chickens are noisy eaters so it may help to put a chicken in with her so she can find the noise and follow it to the feed.

If you believe that her quality of life is so that she should be put down that is a hard call, we both know what mother nature would do.

I have a hen with a long story about her eye I don't have time now to tell, but suffice it to say that even with limited to no use of that one eye she still manages to find her way up to a 6'6" roost every night and eats well although she has to peck at a peanut a couple three times to get it.

 

[johnskoi]

We have had a couple of blind chickens, they would walk around using their beak like a cane feeling in front of them. They would also find food and water by the sound of the other birds eating. I think chickens are noisy eaters so it may help to put a chicken in with her so she can find the noise and follow it to the feed.

If you believe that her quality of life is so that she should be put down that is a hard call, we both know what mother nature would do.

I have a hen with a long story about her eye I don't have time now to tell, but suffice it to say that even with limited to no use of that one eye she still manages to find her way up to a 6'6" roost every night and eats well although she has to peck at a peanut a couple three times to get it.

thanks! it's stories like this that will make me do what i can.

.. i may have to build/separate an area just for her and a few of my gentler silkies ... it may be strange, but i've noticed most of my gentler peas are white... ya know, my gentlest pea is a white boy -- i may try keeping the 2 of them together...

 

[thndrdancr]

I have a cameo that I got from a friend that has the "blind" gene. My friend wanted to get rid of her birds for the winter so I took her in. My friend just told me she was an "unusually calm bird", she didn't realize the hen was blind.
She is a fat and mostly happy bird, but does roost on the ground and the poor dear will never leave the coop. It is genetic and I have her daughter as well who is slowly losing sight. She at least was sighted when I got them here so knows the layout, will go outside and peck around, etc. she does roost.
Momma lost her sight at my friends so had a very difficult time learning and lost a lot of weight. I spent a lot of time with her trying to show her food/water. She was a quick learner. She does eat and drink by the sound of the the birds, and try to have multiple food dishes for her and not move things around too much. If I bring her outside she freaks unless I am right there babysitting or I put her in a dog pen with some of my sweet silkies for the day.

I wondered at her quality last week when I had her out in the grass as when I first put her out there she was frozen and looked miserable. I went back out later and she out having a ball pecking at the grass, etc.
I have to be careful to not let my males try to mate her as she thinks it's a predator and she tries to fly. She cleared my 5 ft fence and I had heck of a time finding her.

Also it is usually hereditary so be careful to not hatch her chicks. My worst prob are my guineas, but they are usually after my poor male.

Just try to not rearrange her world too much, that may be why she is so disoriented and didn't know where food was/water was since you moved things around.

I also have several almost blind chickens and they bop around, roost and do great.

At least they can see a tad bit, unfortunately my hen is 100% blind. Good luck with her.

 

[new 2 pfowl]

If you do a search, I think there are several discussions here that touch on the subject of blind peahens.
If I remember correctly, @thndrdancr has a blind hen that gets along quite well...

*oops we crossed paths here!

 

[johnskoi]

I have a cameo that I got from a friend that has the "blind" gene. My friend wanted to get rid of her birds for the winter so I took her in. My friend just told me she was "unusually calm bird", she didn't realize the hen was blind.
She is a fat and mostly happy bird, but does roost on the ground. It is genetic and I have her daughter as well who is slowly losing sight. She at least grew up here so knows the layout, will go outside and peck around, etc. she does roost.
Momma lost her sight at my friends so had a very difficult time learning. She does eat and drink by the sound of the the birds, I try to have multiple food dishes for her and not move things around too much. If I bring her outside she freaks unless I am right there babysitting or I put her in a dog pen with some of my sweet silkies for the day. I wondered at her quality last week when I had her out in the grass as when I first put her out there she was frozen and looked miserableness. I went back out later and she out having a ball pecking at the grass, etc.
I have to be careful to not let my males try to mate her as she thinks it's a predator and she tries to fly. She cleared my 5 ft fence and I had heck of a time finding her.

Also it is usually hereditary so be careful to not hatch her chicks. My worst prob are my guineas, but they are usually after my poor male.

Just try to not rearrange her world too much, that may be why she is so disoriented and didn't know where food was/water was since you moved things around.

I also have several almost blind chickensand they bop around, roost and do great.

At least they can see a tad bit, unfortunately my hen is 100% blind. Good luck with her.

thanks for the info! to be honest, i've rarely (if ever) seen this white boy mount a hen -- they'd probably make a good couple .. and hatching any of her eggs if she lays, would be out of the question -- may the first time i try eating pea eggs if she does

 

[thndrdancr]

New 2, can you link John to my thread "putting down your pea?" Or search it, it was my anguish at thinking I should and can not.

Turns out I am not the only one! Made me feel all better!!! She is doing great, they would really be tame able as pets, I tell ya.

John I am so so happy for you that you were able to keep all your beautiful birds!

 

[johnskoi]

thank you, jill! kind of elated myself!

 

[new 2 pfowl]

Here's that thread from @thndrdancr :
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/959438/putting-down-your-pea

 

[johnskoi]

Here's that thread from @thndrdancr :
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/959438/putting-down-your-pea

thank you! .. more good info! ... time to make sure she gets more water...