Feather crest trimming issues.

[MildlyOffensiveChicken]

TLDR - is obstructed vision to blame for clumsy, lazy hen who refuses to fly?

I have a 19 week old crested Swedish Flower hen. She is the largest of 4 or 2nd largest.

She had always been lethargic. Doesn’t use the roost. Lots of sitting.

I removed her a few weeks ago because she was being pecked and had wounds on her back. She only had about 3 sq feet during convalescence. I discovered how obstructed her eyes were by the crest. Made sense she would eat and drink with a sideways head and not be a great walker.

I trimmed some. Waited a few weeks and trimmed some more today. She continues to be lethargic, won’t fly even though she can flap both wings fine if she gets nervous when held.

The hens were bullying her too much again so she went back in a dog crate in the coop.

I’ve been giving here 20-30 minute time in the yard. I doubt she takes 100 steps. Pic below, she stood almost still for 10 minutes before moving a few feet, later she sat down and refused to get up. She can run if the other hen gets after her.

I know chickens have something like 300 degree vision. The only part I cant remove Is below the red where the green arrows point.

Is the obstructed vision not the actual culprit of the behaviour?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Are her wounds healed?
What's her poop like?

Blocked vision may be part of the issue, but I would check her for lice/mites. Consider getting a fecal float to see if worms or Coccidiosis are an issue.
If you feel she needs another trim, then trim more and see if she eats her chick starter better.

Make sure her crop is emptying over night.

 

[MildlyOffensiveChicken]

She was much better today. I think she got used to the most recent trim giving her better line of sight.

She moved almost as well as the other 3 over 45 minutes in the yard.

Bullying was also down significantly. Mostly bluff charges. Maybe 5 times. One probable peck when I wasn’t looking but heard the commotion.

I’m giving it a few more days before taking her dog cage out of the coop and putting her back into general population.