chick is fully blind due to fowl pox. should i force feed it?

[kronikjoe]

holding the food to its mouth doesnt exactly work all the time but it drinks fine. however, it's very thin and light. i tried force feeding by using a needle-less syringe. it swallowed the food, but cried each time. i stopped since i wasnt sure if that was a safe method. so, anyone have some ideas? thanks in advance

 

[easttxchick]

I'm going to give you a friendly bump on this.
I wish I could help you, but I have no clue what to tell you.

 

[kronikjoe]

thanks xD

 

[easttxchick]

Actually, I can offer this tip-I remember not too long ago someone posting about a blind chick. Try doing a search on something like how to feed a blind chick and I bet something will come up that can help you.
I wish you good luck with your little chick.

 

[Mahonri]

This is probably something you don't want to read, but if it's just a chick, there really is no life for it blind. You are being merciful to it when you cull it.

 

[kronikjoe]

yeah i did that before creating this but couldnt find anything useful. i think most people just cull their sick chicken. i dont think i could ever bring myself to doing that

 

[kronikjoe]

Quote:
well, thing is, i got it checked up at the vet and the doctor claims it's fowl pox and it will go away in a few days with the antibiotics she gave me. i just want to know if i could feed it through a needle-less syringe for the time being.

 

[peachie]

hi dont cull just yet we have just gorn through this are the eyes just glued shut or the spots stoping it from opening keep with the water they drink more water when they have the pox i had to open his beck and put his food on it he was very happy i gave hime chick starter and yogurt mixed and egg it was hard work but it made it once they have had it they cant get it a gain keep them away from mozzies thats how they get it good luck he will lose a lot of weight

 

[PoultryPedia]

There are 2 blind roosters kept where I live. Each is in a separate cage. One seems pretty happy. The other is worried when I'm around, but might be ok when it's just chickens--I'm not sure.

Some ideas:
I'd recommend providing wet food (instant oatmeal soaked in milk, scrambled egg yolk, chick starter with applesauce, etc) for the chick. If you dip his beak in it, the food will stick which should help prompt him to eat of his own accord. Dipping his beak in his water dish should also prompt him to drink.
Put the food and water dishes on top of something (maybe a tuna can if he's tall enough) to raise it high enough that shavings don't get kicked in. And/or put a folded paper towel over the shavings beneath the dishes.
If you can, keep him in a fairly small area. However, it needs to be long enough that he can walk reasonably far toward or away from the heat lamp as his temperature needs change.
Put the food and water dishes in consistent, set locations and maybe help him slowly "walk" over to them periodically to help him learn where they are. Maybe a corner would be the easiest place for him to find.
Make sure his water dish is pretty drown-proof.
I recommend also giving him drops of PolyVisol children's vitamins (the kind WITHOUT added iron) to help with his eyes' healing, to strengthen his immune system, and to help with his overall development. You can buy the generic kind for about $4 at any pharmacy. You might want to give him 1 or 2 drops directly each day plus put a drop or 2 in his water so he gets a little to help him all day long.

I SO wish the best for him!

I hope you are able to help him, especially if there's a possibility of his eyesight recovering. However, I realize your circumstances my require very hard choices. Best wishes to you

 

[dawg53]

Why did your vet give you antibiotic for fowl pox? Fowl pox is a virus,not a bacterial infection. There is no cure for fowl pox. Did your vet tell you whether it was dry pox or wet pox? If it's dry pox,it should go away in about 30 days on it's own. If it's wet pox, look for a yellowish cheesy substance along/around the eyes and in the mouth/throat. I'd cull if it's wet pox.Both dry and wet pox are highly contagious and most defintely will spread to other chicks and full grown chickens as well. Dry scabs will fall off from dry pox onto the ground and will contaminate soil,the scabs are highly contageous. BTW, fowl pox is spread mainly by mosquitos. Wild birds that come in contact with your chickens can give it to your chickens also.