Eyesight loss ???

[aimee]

I let my girls out a little while ago for their usual free range and treat time but my RIR hen doesn't seem to be seeing right. She's moving really slow and seems to have some depth perseption problems. If I hold something up for her to eat she doesn't seem to have any problem taking it from my hand but when she tries to peck at something at the ground (like grass) she keeps missing it.

Any one have any ideas what could be wrong? I was already have a really bad day today and I was hoping my girls would be able to cheer me up, now I'm even more upset.

 

[robin416]

To confirm her eye sight problem watch her pupils. You can use a flashlight and watch for them to contract. If they are blown fully open then she is probably blind.

I'll let others discuss the different things that can cause blindness, I've only had one incident of it when a pullet was very sick.

Mareks is one cause but if your hen is older then it is probably not the reason.

 

[BlueMoon]

Aimee - how is she a week later? One of Wyandotte's has gone blind, or close to it. It's heart wrenching watching her walk into walls.