Chicken is going blind

[HenniferB]

My first hen is obviously blind in the affected eye. She can see things closer and gets around fine in the coop. My barred rock hen's eyes are both slightly dilated and has significant vision loss in both eyes. She can see some things. We are trying to figure out what she can see. She definitely can pick out her favorite treats from close up! She had some weight loss so I'm trying to fatten her up. She has walked upright for some time, not sure if this is from Marek's or her compensating for her poor sight. She has learned to feel with her wings, feet, and comb to get around. She's a smart girl! My daughters put a towel around her food and water dishes to stop her from knocking them over, but she feels it with her feet and then knows where her food is.

 

[Eggcessive]

The eyes look normal. It doesn’t look like ocular Mareks. What diet is she getting? Blindness in chickens can be from many different causes. Vitamin A or E deficiency, exposure as a chick to avian encephalomyelitis or epidemic tremors, cataracts, exposure to high map ammonia levels , or injuries/infections may be some of the causes. Usually if only one eye is affected, a chicken can get along okay. If both eyes are affected, they can usually see dark and light along with shadows, so many can get along in a familiar environment if they can find feeders and waterers.

 

[HenniferB]

The eyes look normal. It doesn’t look like ocular Mareks. What diet is she getting? Blindness in chickens can be from many different causes. Vitamin A or E deficiency, exposure as a chick to avian encephalomyelitis or epidemic tremors, cataracts, exposure to high map ammonia levels , or injuries/infections may be some of the causes. Usually if only one eye is affected, a chicken can get along okay. If both eyes are affected, they can usually see dark and light along with shadows, so many can get along in a familiar environment if they can find feeders and waterers.

Oops, it didn't attach the pic of my other hen. Hers looks like more typical Marek's. Seems too coincidental that I'm now realizing there symptoms started around the same time. They get an organic layer feed from local feed store and healthy scraps. I've been giving my other girl poultry cell or vitE, B complex, and selenium for a couple weeks.

 

[Eggcessive]

HenniferB, I agree the newest picture is typical of the Mareks grey eye with an irregular shaped pupil.

 

[Chold05]

HenniferB, I agree the newest picture is typical of the Mareks grey eye with an irregular shaped pupil.

@Eggcessive I’m also wondering if my girl is going blind in one eye. She’s a little over 4. Acting normal but I noticed the shape and color is slightly different than her other eye.

Eye in question is the photo on the right in the collage.

 

[Boom Chicka Lady]

Eating metal hardware should not make her blind. Hardware disease is a common problem if they eat metal items around the chicken yard. It’s good that you found her in the window well. Instead of the oatmeal, I would soak some of the chicken feed in some water and feed that. It has all of the balanced nutrients she needs. Does she have any white spots or peck marks around her eyes? Let us know how she is tomorrow, and compare her eyes in color and pupil size.

I too have a chicken that is doing a lot of what is mentioned above here. She seems too close her eyes a lot and not open them very often. She's also isolated from the others as they were getting quite mean to her. I too wonder that if she's blind because she doesn't necessarily see where the food is in her cage until I shake it or put it close to her same way with her water. Once she finds it she eats and drinks just fine. I am just wondering if she has this same problem as being discussed here and looking for a way to treat her.

 

[Slwilliams985]

I too have a chicken that is doing a lot of what is mentioned above here. She seems too close her eyes a lot and not open them very often. She's also isolated from the others as they were getting quite mean to her. I too wonder that if she's blind because she doesn't necessarily see where the food is in her cage until I shake it or put it close to her same way with her water. Once she finds it she eats and drinks just fine. I am just wondering if she has this same problem as being discussed here and looking for a way to treat her.

I am having the same issue with my chicken. She was born with one eye and now lost sight in her good eye. I have her eating out of tin dog bowls-she can find those easily. I guess I need to make her a handicap area. I would like to try and heal her. Have you had any luck?