Calling all Blind chicken experts!

[gmendoza]

I have one black silkie hen that is milked out on her left eye due to an opossum attack. She is still spunky.

I got her a seeing eye dog once, but she didn't know how to walk him, and she wouldn't walk with a cane so she is fine with her sister.

 

[savage]

I had a Blue Orpington that we think was partially blind. She also just didn't seem very smart, but was so nice. You could hold her and she'd' follow you around like a dog. She just disappeared out of the yard yesterday morning. She had recently started doing a better job hanging out with the rest of the flock when we let them out, and wasn't getting picked on at all. She would wander to the woods around our house in the evening if we didn't keep an eye on her (we learned quickly, even if she didn't). We looked everywhere for her within an hour or two of noticing she was missing. Just when I thought things were looking up for her! She's the first bird we've lost, and I feel really bad. I keep hoping she'll show back up, but I'm afraid a hawk might have taken off with her. I guess we could have made her always stay in the run, but she liked going out in the yard with the others.

 

[missmissi]

I am calling on all of you that have experience with caring for blind chickens.
I have a totally blind silkie that is now probably about 3 ½ months old now. I have been keeping her inside with the chicks and she is doing OK however I was wondering if any of you have successfully had a blind chicken in with a flock. I have had several groups of chicks different ages and all have gotten to know her and do fine with her. The older chcikens I had before she came to me also seem to be fine and not pick on her or anything. Also, the group that she had originally come with seems to take her right back into their group. She actually seems to enjoy being in the coop when I take her out there to be one of the big guys!

She is very sweet and does not have a mean bone in her. I have never seen her as much as peck at one of the chicks even though they bounce all over her. She loves to snuggle and also likes to hang with me and just snuggle on my shoulder.
I would like to try to have her be a “normal” chicken as much as she can but has anyone had one within a flock? Or should I just get used to the fact that she will be an indoor chicken forever? I have a flock of different age groups but they do free range.
Just wondering what would be best, try to have her out with the flock or just have her become accustomed to being an indoor chicken with “outings” with the big guys under supervision.
Do you have any suggestions on what has or has not worked for you?
I don’t believe now would be a good time because of the cold and when I did have her in the coop, she knocked the waterer over and got some on her. So, I would think I would have to wait until it warms up a bit to even give it a try outside.
Also, if I should just keep her inside, I know sometimes a buddy is good to have with them BUT, is it really fair to the buddy to not be out and about with the other chickens???
Sorry, for all the questions, just trying to figure out the best way to care for her.

Thanks!

It's been a few years since this post, but I'm wondering what happened with your special bird.

We got a baby chick 2 years ago that seemed "sleepy" at the store. When we got home it appeared the other 3 had stomped her half to death. So with the help of the internet (seriously, what would we do without it) I nursed her for 3 weeks, brought her back to life and made her strong. It's obvious Babe was born with a disability and has poor vision, but she did well with her 3 buddies. We lost 2 this year: the Black Minorca slipped off the roost and broke her neck and the White Rock just fell over while she was 'excavating'.

6 days ago Babe didn't know danger was close or to find shelter and was attacked by a hawk, 10 feet from the east wall of our house and 3 feet from another structure, with goats and horses a few feet away. The hawk's weight pressed her face into the ground and a clump of dirt put her (good)eye out. It cracked her on the back of the skull in an attempt to kill her and carry her off, but my husband saw it happen from inside our home. With the 2 of us yelling, the dogs barking and the horses neighing and kicking, frightened the hawk. We took her to the vet a couple of days later when we realized she still needed more than we could do here.

She's been left mentally handicapped, with additional brain damage caused by the blow to her head, and 25% sight out of 1 eye - trust me, I the obvious thought came to mind, but she's my pet, we love her and there is a reason why the handler at the farm and ranch store put her in my box.

She's got an indoor window coop, courtesy of a Petco Great Dane crate.
A removable/insertable roost.
Bright silver water and feed bowls (for a dog) that are bright and highly visible - she finds them after bumping around the crate or I help her. She's learning.
We trimmed an outdoor rug to size to give her a grip, but she can't eat it, I put scratch feed, dried worms and fresh minced spinach leaves down and she pecks all day, just like outside.
Right now I'm using Press N Seal, until I come up with another idea, as a scatter guard on the bottom of the crate, she still scratches a lot and throws a lot of feed.
I give her by hand a mush with feed + Gerber fruits and veggies that she would normally eat when I give treats outside, and occasionally oatmeal or a little scrambled egg and minced chicken breast and make sure she's getting plenty of water.
I ordered diapers from Louise's Country Closet, they should be here by Tuesday until then ... we pick up poop whenever we smell something.

Do you have any tips or ideas?

Thanks.

 

[NewToFarming]

It's been a few years since this post, but I'm wondering what happened with your special bird.

We got a baby chick 2 years ago that seemed "sleepy" at the store. When we got home it appeared the other 3 had stomped her half to death. So with the help of the internet (seriously, what would we do without it) I nursed her for 3 weeks, brought her back to life and made her strong. It's obvious Babe was born with a disability and has poor vision, but she did well with her 3 buddies. We lost 2 this year: the Black Minorca slipped off the roost and broke her neck and the White Rock just fell over while she was 'excavating'.

6 days ago Babe didn't know danger was close or to find shelter and was attacked by a hawk, 10 feet from the east wall of our house and 3 feet from another structure, with goats and horses a few feet away. The hawk's weight pressed her face into the ground and a clump of dirt put her (good)eye out. It cracked her on the back of the skull in an attempt to kill her and carry her off, but my husband saw it happen from inside our home. With the 2 of us yelling, the dogs barking and the horses neighing and kicking, frightened the hawk. We took her to the vet a couple of days later when we realized she still needed more than we could do here.

She's been left mentally handicapped, with additional brain damage caused by the blow to her head, and 25% sight out of 1 eye - trust me, I the obvious thought came to mind, but she's my pet, we love her and there is a reason why the handler at the farm and ranch store put her in my box.

She's got an indoor window coop, courtesy of a Petco Great Dane crate.
A removable/insertable roost.
Bright silver water and feed bowls (for a dog) that are bright and highly visible - she finds them after bumping around the crate or I help her. She's learning.
We trimmed an outdoor rug to size to give her a grip, but she can't eat it, I put scratch feed, dried worms and fresh minced spinach leaves down and she pecks all day, just like outside.
Right now I'm using Press N Seal, until I come up with another idea, as a scatter guard on the bottom of the crate, she still scratches a lot and throws a lot of feed.
I give her by hand a mush with feed + Gerber fruits and veggies that she would normally eat when I give treats outside, and occasionally oatmeal or a little scrambled egg and minced chicken breast and make sure she's getting plenty of water.
I ordered diapers from Louise's Country Closet, they should be here by Tuesday until then ... we pick up poop whenever we smell something.

Do you have any tips or ideas?

Thanks.

I am sorry I didn't get back to you sooner but this weather sure had me busy trying to keep everyone warm, fed and hydrated and now I am exhausted! It sound like you are doing a wonderful job with your girl! The only thing I could suggest is maybe a laid back buddy for her her to be with. Honey thrived when she was with the flock. You just want to be sure you do not have anyone that will bully her. Surprisingly, some chickens will help her. Honey had helpers that would guide her to where she needed to be. When she got older and all the chicks she was with were out of the house, I put her in the barn with the others. She did well and I setup an outside playpen for during the day so her and a few buddies could be outside when it was nice weather. Sadly though I lost her in the flooding we had in 2011. On bad weather days, I would leave her in the barn with the others and she would not venture out of the barn. She would just hang out in the stall I had set up or elsewhere in the barn. I think because the rains were so hard, it disoriented her and she could not hear where she was at. She would doing these spinning jumps and listen so she could figure out where he was. I searched for her for several days in the monsoon weather we were having and the rain finally slowed down after like 4 or 5 days and I took my dog out to help. He did find her her but she was gone. She was in the pasture not very far from the house in the tall grasses. I was devastated! She was doing so well with adapting until those rains came.
The biggest thing is to make sure they are eating and drinking enough. I still miss that girl. But I think you are doing an excellent job with your girl!

 

[missmissi]

babe is getting used to her chicken diaper and is sleeping on my chest now, plz excuse the poor typing with only one hand to not wake her.

she is enjoying her small spaces. when we r home she plays on her rug in the living area, it has bumper guards to try to keep her in, though she wonders, and of course her food, water and treats are with her: 1/2 ear of corn or broccoli, a treat ball with meal worms & scratch, diced sweet bell peppers, spinach and romain.

my husband keeps taking her outside to get fresh air but she doesn't like it. she is doing well finding her bowls and treats because she cant wander too far away from them, so she is very happy living indoors. I brought our other chick in to visit and babe was afraid and cowed down. she and our poodle are doing well, and of course she gets attention from I and my husband.

after her dinner at night I put a little tepid water in a plastic dishpan, she drinks and submerges her face to clean it, and dances around cleaning her feet. this a good opportunity for me to clean her vent area too. I dry her and she relaxes and cuddles with me until shes sleepy. ive already cleaned her rug/mat and straightened up her crate by then, so I position her on her 3" high (in case she falls its not a big deal) roost with newspaper underneath, she cuddles with stuffed toys attached to the walls of the crate at night. we cover her crate with a dark sheet and we don't hear a peep til the morning. she's as self sufficient an has all the accommodations of the other chicks outside. the diaper is taking some getting used to for us both, I have to learn to put it on correctly and she has to get used to the straps.

I'm sorry to hear about Honey, you must have felt so helpless during those rains, I bet watching the other chicks helping her was just precious. 2 animals have been taken away from us by predators and its devastating. the worst was my turkey, I still morn the loss of Phil every day, after 3 years. we will get 5 baby chicks in about 6 weeks. we set up a brooder inside, it will be next to babe's crate. i'm anxious to see how she responds to them. they will likely think she is mama.

we are new to this lifestyle, my husband and I both are from the city, we made the full time change to country living after having a weekend getaway for a few years. my idea of caring for animals is much different than most. we don't have children, and so suddenly we have 10 with fur, feathers or hooves, and hope to continue to grow, slowly

Thank you!

 

[NewToFarming]

babe is getting used to her chicken diaper and is sleeping on my chest now, plz excuse the poor typing with only one hand to not wake her.

she is enjoying her small spaces. when we r home she plays on her rug in the living area, it has bumper guards to try to keep her in, though she wonders, and of course her food, water and treats are with her: 1/2 ear of corn or broccoli, a treat ball with meal worms & scratch, diced sweet bell peppers, spinach and romain.

my husband keeps taking her outside to get fresh air but she doesn't like it. she is doing well finding her bowls and treats because she cant wander too far away from them, so she is very happy living indoors. I brought our other chick in to visit and babe was afraid and cowed down. she and our poodle are doing well, and of course she gets attention from I and my husband.

after her dinner at night I put a little tepid water in a plastic dishpan, she drinks and submerges her face to clean it, and dances around cleaning her feet. this a good opportunity for me to clean her vent area too. I dry her and she relaxes and cuddles with me until shes sleepy. ive already cleaned her rug/mat and straightened up her crate by then, so I position her on her 3" high (in case she falls its not a big deal) roost with newspaper underneath, she cuddles with stuffed toys attached to the walls of the crate at night. we cover her crate with a dark sheet and we don't hear a peep til the morning. she's as self sufficient an has all the accommodations of the other chicks outside. the diaper is taking some getting used to for us both, I have to learn to put it on correctly and she has to get used to the straps.

I'm sorry to hear about Honey, you must have felt so helpless during those rains, I bet watching the other chicks helping her was just precious. 2 animals have been taken away from us by predators and its devastating. the worst was my turkey, I still morn the loss of Phil every day, after 3 years. we will get 5 baby chicks in about 6 weeks. we set up a brooder inside, it will be next to babe's crate. i'm anxious to see how she responds to them. they will likely think she is mama.

we are new to this lifestyle, my husband and I both are from the city, we made the full time change to country living after having a weekend getaway for a few years. my idea of caring for animals is much different than most. we don't have children, and so suddenly we have 10 with fur, feathers or hooves, and hope to continue to grow, slowly

Thank you!

She is so lucky to have you! It sounds like you have a great set up for and she is happy. That is what is important, she is happy! Yes, I did forget to mention to keep things in the sane place like the feeder and waterer should not be moved. I also found that elevating it a bit made it easier for her. She was able to connect easier it seemed. I bet it isn't easy to get the diaper on her! Animals are great! I don't think I could live in a city. I would be lost not caring for animals like I do! That is awesome you decided to make the switch to country living. I think it is so much more relaxing, even though you are busy taking care of critters! LOL
Yes, I did feel helpless and heartbroken about Honey out in that rain. I was deveasted and to find, she was only about 75 feet from the house. I had made a certain call for her w

hich you might want to do also. Whether it is a noise or word for her to recognize. I did have one for Honey and it was a certain way I said her name. She learned to pay attention when she heard it. After searching the pastures, I would stand on the porch and call her. I think she was trying to get to where she heard me calling her. This still makes me very sad!
But looking at this picture made me smile! This is Honey and Henry. He was her best buddy and he was guiding her in this picture. They were young here at about 5 months old.

 

[missmissi]

Update for Babe:
4 weeks indoors and she decided it was time to go outside. We have one other hen, Rosebud. Babe follows Rosebud's lead on time to come down from the roost in the morning and when to go inside for the night. The two of them free range during the day and are safely tucked away in Fort Knox for chickens at night. With only 50% visibility in her good/undamaged eye, I guess she remembers a lot about her environment outdoors, because she is quite independent and doing well. She's losing weight again, I'm going to need to address that, she went from 3.5 pounds at the time of her injury to 5.5 pounds during her time indoors - yaaaaayyy!

 

[NewToFarming]

Glad to hear she is doing so well and Rosebud is being a good Buddy to her! Isn't it amazing how well they adapt to overcome their obstacles??

 

[luvmyfowl]

I recently rescued a battery hen. Her beak was half cut off and she was pretty shell shocked from the inhumane treatment of factory farming. I put her in with my blind hen, Helen. Battery hens have no idea of how to act like a normal hen. They cant defend themselves from other hens and tend to be picked on. She doesnt have a mean bone in her body and LOVES Helen. She makes a chuck chuck sound and Helen stays right with her. Frankie, thats the battery hen, from Anne Frank, "shows" Helen where the tasty treats are by noisily eating and drinking. They have their own stall that they share with a Silkie. On nice days, they come out and scratch and dust bathe and stretch out in the sun. I know who my bully hens are and when they come around the 3 hens, I just shoo them away. Blind hens do very well, they just need a little extra TLC. You will come to love them even more than the others. Thanks for all your kindness.

 

[luvmyfowl]

OH, I forgot to mention. Helen is blind. She was attacked by a Hawk 3 years ago which left her completely blind. Shes doing great.