Could the Chick be blind?

[kimb]

I have a 16ish week old partridge Silkie chick ... when I got her she always had her head tucked right in to her chest almost all the time and even tighter when she got scared. I treated her for wry neck ... but over time she's held her head up more and more - but never quite up as alertly as the others... She's very reserved - but always becomes active at the sound of my voice - but never really scratches around for treats like the others. (she lives with 3 other silikies and 2 d'uccles).

I had them out today with my 16ish week old Giant Cochin girls while I watched and she just appeared to be very lost. She doesn't run or crouch when any of the other chicks come around until they are RIGHT on top of her, she doesn't jump or scury when my dog (cattle dog) decides she needs to nose through them and scatter them to the winds (NOT aggressively ! she just walks right up behind them and nose's them around the yard - all the other chicks never let her touch them, but with this little girl she can put her nose right to her bum and push her anywhere and she doesn't seem flustered - I'm assuming it's because she doesn't really know what's pushing her?)

Lastly as I was tucking everyone in their divided sections she was in the center of the yard (my dog had pushed her there) and again apparently lost I walked close to her - crouched down and called her while kissing at her and she would take a few steps, stop and listen, then take a few steps more and actually came to me, I picked her up and put her back in the coop...

From all of this I've come to the assumption that she's blind, or at least can't see well... Am I digging too deep into it, maybe she's just a very reserved/laid back little girl ... she finds her food/water fine.

Ohh and if I almost touch her eye with my finger she doesn't blink or squirm - and she doesn't blink as often or rapidly as the other chicks...

Anyone ever had a blind chicken? ... If she is blind I obviously can't ever leave her unattended with the more aggressive chickens - my5 month old EE actually seeks out the silkies/d'uccle's to be a bully - so when they're out she's penned up with my OLD EE who has decided she's out to kill my 8month cochin/silkie girl ... It's quite the scene to keep everyone safe ... I'm hoping come summer with more daylight and ground to scratch up they'll get along better ...

But I think my little partridge girl is going to require extra care/attention to make sure she's safe.

 

[jeremy]

I've never heard of this. But for whatever reason it makes me feel like your Silkie is like 10X more adorable than anybody else's because it's a special needs Silkie.

I hope on of the experts chimes in on this thread, it'll be an interesting topic of discussion.

 

[gritsar]

Sounds like she could be blind. I have a half blind hen that does fine as part of my free range flock, but she's only half blind.
Good luck to your little one.

 

[kimb]

thanks! she is an adorable little girl

(well they all are - but she's SUPER SUPER soft to boot! ).

I've got to try and figure this thing out better to get pictures up

 

[jeremy]

Quote:
[ img ] [ /img ] <- use that code without the spaces. Put the img url of whatever picture in the middle of the two codes.

Now bring on the pics!

 

[gritsar]

One tip I can give you on dealing with a blind chicken. Avoid moving things around, like the food and water. Always make sure the blind one can locate them and always check their crop at night to make sure it's full.

 

[kimb]

I had them out today again and she was more active, still had that "lost" look a few times - but seems to adjust better and enjoy herself ... when she would wander away alone I just had to call her and she'd come back

(so cute!)

I think she can see shadows (maybe) sense she doesn't crash into anything ...

I got some pictures too

 

[19hhbelgian]

Is there any coudiness in either eye, or do they water a lot? It really does sound like she is at least partially blind (maybe able to see shadows?). Don't move the food/water around as someone else has already mentioned. If things stay the way they have been since she's been out, there shouldn't be any reason she cannot function as a chicken

Obviously she cannot be left unattended outside due to predators, but otherwise, she'll be just fine. I've known multiple blind horses (I have one that's 1/2 blind), and as long as you take measure to make sure they can't hurt themselves out in pasture, and they learn where the water and food will always be, everything will be just fine. I'd assume the same thing should work for your cute little girl!

 

[kimb]

not cloudy and not watery - I do think at most she can see shadows ... but I'll be sure to make sure she is always safe. she finds food and water fine when/if I move it (there have been a lot of living changes since I've got them). She's very cautious about where she goes and seems to check the area before she starts moving around.

Eventually I'm planning on making a separate outside pen for the bantams since the big guys really tend to boss them around.

They're all separated and locked in at night to be safe from predators.
By:
silkies / d'uccles

Old Americauna

Cochins / Americauna chick /2 bantam mixes

It's quite the head ache....

 

[19hhbelgian]

Quote:
Yes, but that's true

!!