Coop for blind chicken

[DulcyDoll]

I recently hatched out a chick with no eyes. I have heard that others have raised blind chicks before and need some tips on building a coop for him/her. I know that the things inside need to stay in the same place, always. And that the run should be about the same size as the coop, but other than that..i have no idea!

Any and all help is welcome, and would be much appreciated.
Here is my little guy, Radar

(he is the buff guy in the box lol)

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

Wow, i have never seen that before. i'm sure someone will come along who has some good advice. Very nice of you to want to provide him handicapped accommodations.

 

[cjeanean]

awww, he's so cute! I love the poofy little cheeks! We had a blind chicken and sadly she couldn't get enough feed and died. Poor chickie. we tried helping her but didn't have an area to keep her completely separated. I wish I knew something about it, but I do know that when I brought our blind chicken inside for a while she needed a small area with a low roost (actually it was a piece of a dowel rod laying on the floor, not actually mounted above floor level) and low feed and water bowls. If you want him to have outdoor access you'll need to make it a walk in/walk out kind of thing, cause our blind chick couldn't make it down the ramp. She would gently feel her way down walking on the edge of the ramp, checking where the edge was with one foot before stepping further down. She would get to the end of the ramp and stop though, because she didn't want to get lost. I would make a gravel path or something that your chick could feel to get back into the coop, and make sure there's no ramp or anything. That way the chick would always know that the entrance is at the end of the gravel path, or whatever else kind of medium you could use to make a feel-able path. He may not be able to scratch or peck the same as the other chickens, since he won't be able to see where the ground is. Ours couldn't. Also, you'll want to make sure the edges of the feed and water bowls are roost-proof, cause the last thing you want is a poop filled chicken glued to the edge of the bowl with its butt firing into the fresh clean water you just put in there for him! Good luck, and what a sweet little chickie!

 

[kobesmom81]

That is the most precious chick I have ever seen! I wish I could help you out with some suggestions. We have one that is blind in one eye and I thought that she would get picked on by the others but they don't mess with her too much and when they do she holds her own. Maybe you could just make him/her a house chicken?

 

[DulcyDoll]

He has been doing ok. I separated him from his siblings today because I noticed that he wasn't able to find things easily in the big brooder. Since putting him in the smaller box, he has been remembering where the water dish is, and has been eating fairly well for not being able to see lol. His food is currently on the floor of his box, so he can find it easily, and water is a overturned jar lid with marbles in the bottom to keep him from drowning, or laying in the water. I'm going to do my best to give him as normal a life as possible.

I can't make him a house chicken...lol...we have 5 cats, 3 of whom like to kill small outdoor animals, and 3 large dogs that reside in the house, a chicken mixed with them doesn't seem plausible.

Good idea about the pebbles leading to the coop, I wouldn't have thought of that! He does find food with his feet though.. I'll add that to the list! Also about the keeping it on the ground, thats a good one too.
Thanks!! Keep the suggestions coming!

 

[portlandpeeps]

Well for starters you'll need braille signs on everything, a little cane with a white tip, books on tape, some little sunglasses, and if you can...a guide dog.

 

[DulcyDoll]

HAHAHA I actually told mom, when she asked how it was going to learn to get around by himself, that i was going to put braille on everything in the coop and teach him to read it...she thought i was serious...

and a cockroach to be his guide bug lol

 

[conny63malies]

You guys crack me up. I think the key is that you have to put the food in a deeper bowl and always keep it in the same place. I calm buddy would be good too- so it can hear it eat and drink. Put the food n the corners so the chick doesnt run into them, but can walk along the sides of the brooder and find them. Never had a blind chick ,but if i couldnt see i would walk and feel my way around by touching a wall.

 

[3 sisters farm]

You might consider using a rabbit cage one of the wood ones the bigger models. I use one as my hospital cage you can use scrap wood to cover the grate and shavings...then change the wood out if gets real yucky. One recommendation the latches on these cabinets are not dog proof....install additional locks....neighbors dog ate the rabbit....but 2 more moved in (my girls begged). I got a second one off craigslist so I got my chicken hospital again.

 

[sianara]

Amber, I'd like to suggest you house another chick with Radar from the beginning. Chickens are very social animals and thrive on having others around. I think having a friend will encourage he/she to be braver and to seek out more interesting things in their run like bugs, rocks, food particles etc. You could build a small predator proof run/coop like so many shown in the coops section. Make sure to make the run at least 20-40sq feet since you'd probably want to keep them in it all the time.

Please keep us posted on Radars progress.