Can a chicken only use one eye?

[ClaraCluckChicken]

Hello! I’ve posted a couple times about my hen who got injured and is recuperating. I’ve taken her to the vet twice now and she seems to be basically recovered except she WONT open her eyes. The vet did say one eye was damaged and does not work but the other one appears fine and is reacting fine...but she won’t open them! So now I’m wondering...is a chicken smart enough to just use one eye? Or just open the good eye?

 

[M-H-Fielding]

That is a good question. I'm not sure I know!
Sorry I can't be of any help!

 

[kelseyk]

I have a Lavender Orpington who had her right eye pecked as a chick. It is completely white and unuseable. She gets a long just like any other chicken with just her left eye. She just cocks her head slightly to the side when she walks so that she can see. But she has grown out just fine - just as big as her sisters.

 

[ClaraCluckChicken]

I have a Lavender Orpington who had her right eye pecked as a chick. It is completely white and unuseable. She gets a long just like any other chicken with just her left eye. She just cocks her head slightly to the side when she walks so that she can see. But she has grown out just fine - just as big as her sisters.

Awesome! I figured this had to be the case but we have no idea why she won’t open her eye...so then I got to wondering if chickens are smart enough to just open the one working one. Not sure what is going on in her little brain!

 

[Chickeria]

My friend does have a 10 years old bantam Brahma rooster. Last year one of his eyes got injured when another rooster attacked him. It is completely white and unuseable - same as kelseyk describes her Lavender Orpington's eye. I have got the impression he gets along fine with the eye left.
In the meanwhile 2 roosters and one cockerel were killed by a hawk - one-eyed 'Arnold' (I gave him that name) is still there!

 

[Libby the Chicken]

Hello! I’ve posted a couple times about my hen who got injured and is recuperating. I’ve taken her to the vet twice now and she seems to be basically recovered except she WONT open her eyes. The vet did say one eye was damaged and does not work but the other one appears fine and is reacting fine...but she won’t open them! So now I’m wondering...is a chicken smart enough to just use one eye? Or just open the good eye?

One of my roosters was pecked as a chick damaging one of his eyes, but he is still able to eat and drink and at times he gets a little unbalanced and can cock his head to the side, but other than that he is doing well without that eye (playing, foraging, etc.) Hope that helps!