chicken can't see properly

[Alpops]

Hi everyone....I have a 2 yr old chicken who is not not doing well - please can anyone help. She is consistently picked on by our large drake as our chickens and ducks are in together....about a month ago she started to just sit on her own so I separated her - after a few days she perked and went out - I thought she'd just had a bad peck or something. Since then she has been OK but still keeping herself to herself when she can - often prefering to stay inside on her perch when I opened the coop up in the morning. 2 days ago she came out and was limping and weak so I separated her again and she waves her head from side to side now when she sees me. I haven't seen her eat for days so today I tried her with some ham to tempt her - she shuffled over and tried to peck it but kept missing, like she can't see the food properly. I am thinking maybe she has had a head injury but I have no idea how to help.....does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[Alpops]

Update on the above...please can anyone help! My chicken is now propping herself up against the wall as otherwise she slides over to left and finds it really difficult to get up. I spent yesterday offering food and water, neither of which interested her so I opening her beak up and dribbled in some runny yogurt with sugar in....I did the same this morning, but she is still going downhill. I felt her crop and seems fine (empty) and can't feel any lumps anywhere on her....I am going to bring her into the house tonight as it's a bit warmer at least and no mice for her to worry about.

 

[Suzie]

Sorry to see that nobody has so far responded to your posts...

It is ( in my opinion ) not a good idea to have ducks and chickens in the same accommodation... ducks are incredibly messy and will easily foul the water supply...their poop is very wet and that will add greatly to the humidity in the coop...I suspect that is is very cold (as it is here in the middle of France )...and it is a good idea to keep her inside in warm conditions...it also affords for you to observe her behaviour..if she cannot see food you should put feed in one place where she can find it...tap the feed container and encourage her to respond to the tapping sound...they can respond very quickly to this...also do the same for her water supply..

Try feeding her with some scrambled eggs, tuna fish and if you have any vitamin B...(such as marmite ) you should give her some of this as a supplement to her normal feed...if you live anywhere near me I have a plentiful supply of marmite which I will gladly give to you...I am in the Allier...you can pm me for details if you wish to collect some..free of charge.

Please keep us informed as to how she is...casportpony can give you instructions on tube feeding if you will consider getting better nutrition into your sick girl.

Suzie

 

[Alpops]

Hi - thanks for replying! We are quite close to you, we are just south of Lyon! Thank you so much for the marmite offer - we all love it in our house so we have loads don't worry ;-) Good idea for adding it to the food, I'll try it in the morning. I have been putting her food just in front of her - dipping her beak into it and then putting it down and tapping it - same with the water, but it all stays untouched :-( The only way I can get anything into her is by forcing her beak open and putting a bit of food in, which she then swallows...not much though as she soon cottons on and clamps her beak shut too tightly! I get the feeling I am just prolonging the inevitable as she is so weak - maybe I should just leave her in peace?

 

[Suzie]

Casportpony is wonderful at teaching how to tube feed...both water and feed...maybe pm her...!