Heterochromia? Two Different Colored Eyes?

[Fur-N-Fowl]

I just stumbled across this thinking I'd found my long lost chicken relatives only to read on and find it wasn't the best news

To try and answer your original question though, I do believe heterochromia is genetic and can be inherited. I don't know the full answer behind it though.

All I know is my Mother has Complete Heterochromia (one green eye and one blue eye) and I have Central Heterochromia (blue eyes with a gold centre) my father has blue eyes, no Heterochromia. No one else in our family has shown it physically.

Some gentics are at play with that.

If true Heterochromia was present in chickens, I think it'd be a pretty cool project to work on!

 

[kelleyayers1]

It causes blindness, but in the chicken I owned that had it, she didn't appear to be affected. However, some of the young birds in my flock had to be culled for the neurological form of Mareks. Not sure if the cases were related or coincidential.

When one chicken has Marek's they spread it to everyone.

 

[kelleyayers1]

Yep, looks like occular Mareks.

I believe if you shine a light in the eye the pupil won't dilate normally.