Blind Pullet

[Suzanne Aubin]

Hi All,
I new to chickens and a newer member to BYC. I bought 6 EE pullets from TSC in mid April. Their about 11 weeks old we believe one is blind or nearly blind. We live in the city. With a small yard. Currently we have 9 pullets. Has any one had a blind chicken?

 

[Poultrybreeder]

I have had them multiple times, usually we have to put them down, as they cannot see to eat or drink. The way we can tell, is by the way they act, they will stretch out their necks and dart slowly, while crashing into things, and not moving much.

 

[Suzanne Aubin]

That sounds about right. She is able to find the food and water. We put her in the coop every night and put her up on a roost. She will listen for the other girls and go where she hears them. She is very sweet and liked to cuddle. I'm hoping we don't have to put her down, It will break my daughters heart.

 

[Poultrybreeder]

As long as she continues to be able to find the food and water, you should not have to put her down, make sure to keep doing the things she likes to keep her spirits up, and remind her that life is worth living even though she can't see. You might find random eggs from her in the yard though..

 

[Suzanne Aubin]

As long as she continues to be able to find the food and water, you should not have to put her down, make sure to keep doing the things she likes to keep her spirits up, and remind her that life is worth living even though she can't see. You might find random eggs from her in the yard though..

I wondered if she would find the egg boxes. I kinda figured we would find her eggs around the yard.

 

[Cneilso]

We've had a couple of blind ones in the past (and a baby now with only one eye). When they've completely lost their vision, they seemed to become a little more anxious and we moved them into a separate, smaller area (dog crate) with food and water containers zip tied to the crates at a height that it'll bump into their chest. Easier for them to find food/water then. The one I take outside to let her socialize more and dust bath, but she prefers to stick by my side. She eats and drinks fine now that she's there. Some people cull them, but I don't like that when I can avoid it