Help a Polish to see better?

[donnap1967]

I am just wondering something. Kinda silly really. I have a Polish chick who is about 8 weeks old. I know Polish chicks all have the vision problem when their feathers come in but I feel so bad for her sometimes.

When she is out in the yard with her friends (she is the only polish of the group) she tends to get lost when they run off to another area because she can't see where they went. She cries so loudly that sometimes I pick her up and bring her over to wherever the rest went.

She is a total sweetheart and loves to be held. When I call her name when she is crying she comes running over to the sound of my voice. She seems to get so upset when she's lost.

I even see her bump into things now and then. I know she has normal vision, she's not blind. She just has a ton of feathers all around her head and eyes.

Does anyone ever do anything to help them see better?

 

[austinhart123]

we used to put there feathers up with a pomy tail holder

 

[Redfeathers]

I take a small pair of scissors and trim all the feathers around the eye area and in the front so they can see. It doesn't look bad at all if you take your time. Have someone hold her while you do the trimming. Once you do it she will be much happier and the trim lasts a long time so you don't have to do it again until she molts.

 

[Mr.Yardbird]

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I'd like to see a picture of that!!!

 

[donnap1967]

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Is there any danger of bleeding? There are no blood feathers there are there?

 

[pkeeler]

My polish chick was doing the same thing as your's. Then we trimmed the feathers around the eyes and she/he perked right up and started acting normal again. There was no bleeding. Make sure you don't have any feathers dangling after clipping or the other chickens will pluck them out.

 

[donnap1967]

Do just clip the ends or do you want to get as close to the skin as possible?

 

[verthandi]

It should be easy to see blood feathers on your light colored bird. Pin feathers will still be straight quills and not opened feathers yet. Don't cut those. Usually the blood recedes from the feather soon after it is full opened to resemble a normal feather. But look at the actually quill part, it will be dark if there is still blood in it. Otherwise is will be more clear or neutral looking, when they look clear they are okay to cut. I use rounded safety scissors, or sometimes bandage scissors, I just clip the sort of tufted feathers around their eyes back as close as I can.

 

[Redfeathers]

I've never come across a blood feather, but do check first. If you clip one, just pluck it out and apply some styptic powder or in a pinch flour to it. Honestly though, I've never had a problem

 

[verthandi]

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I agree, I have never seen one when cutting their face feathers either. But have found quite a lot of blood on the roost now and then when they accidentally break one on their body somewhere.