Cataract or another issue?

[fluffybumfarm]

Hi, Just brought this guy back from a farm he has been kept at and noticed his eye.

Would like opinions if this is a cataract something else from anyone who may have had the same issue or knowledge of.

He seems happy and healthy otherwise.

Thanks in advance.

 

[TeenageRooster's Dad]

If he's happy otherwise, I wouldn't worry too much. I'm not expert here but I have a black Australop with "foggy" eyes that I've been wondering about but she seems fine too. Even when I shine a light in, it's hard to see her iris.

Sucks to worry about our birds.. just lost a girl today from most likely Coccidiosis.. I'm still pretty upset, wish I could've done more

 

[ChickNanny13]

 

[Eggcessive]

It looks like he has had an injury to his eye in the past. There could have been an infection, but hard to know. It looks very abnormal and he probably is blind in that eye. Many chickens can get along with only one good eye, but if you have other roosters, he might be easily hurt. There can be a lot of eye problems in chickens from injuries, viruses, such as Mareks or avian encephalomyelitis, vitamin A or E deficiency, infections, cataracts, and others.

 

[rebrascora]

@TeenageRooster's Dad

If you have a bird with "foggy" eyes and you recently lost a bird older than a chick to coccidiosis, I would be concerned that you might have Marek's disease in your flock. Birds should build up immunity to coccidia once they have been out on the ground for a few weeks. If you have older birds suffering from coccidiosis then it suggests that their immune system may be compromised and Marek's disease has that effect. The ocular version can also cause changes in eye colour and pupil shape and problems with depth perception etc. It is worth being aware of the disease and knowing what to look out for.

@fluffybumfarm

Whilst this may have been caused by an injury in younger days, I would be very wary about adding such a bird to my flock and certainly practise very strict biosecurity during quarantine, just in case it is Marek's Disease. Once you have the virus in your flock, there is very little chance of getting rid of it and it can cause a lot of heartbreak. The disease is also exceptionally common, so the risk is high.

 

[TeenageRooster's Dad]

@TeenageRooster's Dad

If you have a bird with "foggy" eyes and you recently lost a bird older than a chick to coccidiosis, I would be concerned that you might have Marek's disease in your flock. Birds should build up immunity to coccidia once they have been out on the ground for a few weeks. If you have older birds suffering from coccidiosis then it suggests that their immune system may be compromised and Marek's disease has that effect. The ocular version can also cause changes in eye colour and pupil shape and problems with depth perception etc. It is worth being aware of the disease and knowing what to look out for.

@fluffybumfarm

Whilst this may have been caused by an injury in younger days, I would be very wary about adding such a bird to my flock and certainly practise very strict biosecurity during quarantine, just in case it is Marek's Disease. Once you have the virus in your flock, there is very little chance of getting rid of it and it can cause a lot of heartbreak. The disease is also exceptionally common, so the risk is high.

Hey very good point regarding Marek's. That's pretty much what happened; I had 2 light brahmas I brought in that weren't immunized, which I found out later... lost one few weeks ago, the other one yesterday. Both were 9-12months old and had no symptoms besides parasites likes... I'm still beating myself for it, spent all day ytd trying to salvage that last one. I don't care how farmy and tuff you are.. nurturing a life for a day to see it shake'n die kinda sucks. 18 beers later, still not over it.

 

[rebrascora]

It is hard when we do our best and they still die. All we can do is learn as much as we can so that next time we stand a better chance, but there are some ailments and diseases that just can't be fixed. Sadly many chickens have short lives. Making what they have as good quality as possible should be our goal.