Help! How do I feed my blind chicken?

[SuburbSpurs]

My favorite chicken recently went blind and I have been keeping her in my room with a food an water dish, the first two days she would smack her beak against the metal dish so she could find the food and water but now, after we refilled them she can't seem to find them, she spills them all over the floor and can't find it one the floor. She still seems to have energy and doesn't seem lethargic.I put a female silkie in there with her today but she only seems to trip over her and freak out, Will she eventually get used to her? How do I get my baby to eat again?

 

[redhen689]

Chickens are visual eaters. I'm not sure what to tell you. I had a hen that was blinded temporarily, and I had to try different things to get her to eat. Sometimes I'd hold her, pry her beak open and push some food in her mouth. Sometimes I mixed so yogurt in her food and as I held her, stuck her beak into it, and she'd look for more. Try using heavy dishes, resistant to tipping, to feed her. You might have to end up tube feeding her daily.
I know this would be a difficult decision but you may need to think about putting her down.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

The only way to feed a blind hen or rooster is to build it a small coop or stall. A cube about 18" by !8" by 18" is about right. The stall must have a solid bottom, top, and 3 sides. Cover the floor with wheat straw so the bird doesn't develop bed sores on its breast from sleeping on the flat. The 4th side is the door and there must be 2 side by side slits in the door, each slit about 3 inches wide so that the unfortunate chicken can stick its head and neck out the slits to get to the food and water. It is best if you can find the old galvanized metal pint feed and water cups because you can bang or rap on them louder to drew the chickens attention to the food awaiting just outside of the door. Every time you feed and water beat on the cups with your finger or ring so that the unfortunate chicken can more easily find its food and drink.

 

[ten chicks]

My favorite chicken recently went blind and I have been keeping her in my room with a food an water dish, the first two days she would smack her beak against the metal dish so she could find the food and water but now, after we refilled them she can't seem to find them, she spills them all over the floor and can't find it one the floor. She still seems to have energy and doesn't seem lethargic.I put a female silkie in there with her today but she only seems to trip over her and freak out, Will she eventually get used to her? How do I get my baby to eat again?

Did you move the location of feed/water bowls or have they been in the same spot,always keep them in the same location. You might want to look at poultry nipples for her,this will prevent her from accidentally drowning. Can you keep in the house as a house chicken,this way you can monitor her to ensure she is eating/drinking,have no worries about her being cold if she cannot roost beside other birds and will minimize the occurrence of accidents. It is possible to maintain her health,but will require diligence on your part.

Try adding water to her feed(so it resembles oatmeal,or look at fermenting her feed)this will be easier for her to eat.

 

[casportpony]

Great suggestions from all.

-Kathy

 

[ten chicks]

I neglected to mention to add grit/oyster shells/crushed egg shells to her wet feed,i would not normally recommend this,but in her case i am as she probably will not search out these necessary items on her own. Place this items in her feed couple of times a week,you do not need to add daily as the grit does stay in the gizzard,but it is worn down so it becomes useless for the grinding process. If you want to add daily,use a very small amount in her feed.

 

[SuburbSpurs]

Thank everyone for the great advice, should I remove the other chicken? She pecked her this morning and I don't want her her beating up on my blind chicken.

 

[ten chicks]

Thank everyone for the great advice, should I remove the other chicken? She pecked her this morning and I don't want her her beating up on my blind chicken.

Yes,if she is showing aggression to blind chicken,then remove her. You could give her a child proof stuffed animal to cuddle up to,in place of another chicken.

 

[casportpony]

Yes,if she is showing aggression to blind chicken,then remove her. You could give her a child proof stuffed animal to cuddle up to,in place of another chicken.

X2

 

[SuburbSpurs]

Okay I had heard that another chicken could help by kind of showing where the food was.