Can chickens go blind?

[BackyardinWales]

Somehow that seems like a silly title, but my old girl (who isn't old) has not been right since about September last year when she did a major moult and stopped laying, and is yet to start again. This isn't really a big worry, but she is slow to join the girls for breakfast, and is very unsteady on her feet. I wondered if it was neurological as we lost her brother February '24 with a neurological issue that meant he couldn't use his legs.

My sister was over today and was watching her, and as she was about to say something I voiced, "could she be going blind", and her response was "I was just going to say the same thing."

On top of this when I went to put them to bed, Ezzy fell from her roost onto her back on the floor. The thump startled me and I 'righted' her, but she just didn't seem right. I moved her into a nesting box so she was out of the way, but I'm half expecting to find her dead in the morning.

I know no-one can really help, but just needed to voice my concern. If she's still with us on Monday, I might just have to take her to the vet. We did see a vet recently as she wasn't eating, and he gave her an antibiotic and vitamins, and she seemed to perk up for a day or two, but it's like she's tired.

She's my first hatchling chicken, and only 1 3/4 years old. Sorry if I'm waffling. I just wish I could make her better and she go on forever.

 

[Chicken_Obsesser]

I had a blind chicken, after a while she got around just fine. I'm going to tag a few people who may be able to offer some good advice. @Eggcessive @Wyorp Rock

 

[The Moonshiner]

I had a blind hen and she did OK. Her only real issue was getting lost and someone would have to help her find her way again.
She had nothing going on like you're describing.

 

[Eggcessive]

Could you post clear pictures of her eyes? Did you rooster possibly die of Mareks disease? The ocular form of Mareks can cause changes in the eye, such as an irregular shaped pupil and a gray or faded colored iris. Other eye problems can be caused by injury, cataracts, infection, respiratory diseases, and vitamin a or d deficiency. If you lose her or before I would check around to see if you have any vet school that may do a necropsy. Here is the US, most state vets can do testing and a necropsy.

 

[BackyardinWales]

Thank you all. I can't guarantee getting good photos, since I myself am registered blind.

This morning she was still in the coop and didn't come out (albeit very cautiously) until after her sister went in to get her.

We have a bank holiday tomorrow, so I'll ring on Tuesday and see if I can get another vet appointment. He did say to go back if I wasn't happy.

Thank you again.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

They certainly ly can go blind. I have a hen that's in the double digits that gets wobbly on bad days and on her worst days did need to be righted once or twice. But on her good days, she is just like most birds

 

[Eggcessive]

My Polish hen lost her eyesight in one eye from a peck after she kept running into other chickens. She got along pretty well most of the time in a familiar setting. She would occasionally get chased out of the yard, and might need some help occasionally. The poor hen got beheaded by a hawk one afternoon while the rest were hiding under an evergreen tree.

 

[coach723]

I have a blind hen also, she's about 12 years old. She lives in a parallel run in my coop with one other older hen. She's protected and has a covered area outside during the day she can get to. It's all a small space so she doesn't get too "lost", but sometimes still does get stuck in a corner and complain loudly. Her food and water is always in the same spot so she can find it, and she sleeps in a dog crate as roosting is not possible for her any more.