How to tell if my Chicken is Blind

[sjeastling83]

I have 3 6 month old Chocolate Orpingtons. I think the smallest one is blind. She doesn't run when I approach (the other 2 do), she seems to look and turn her head around more than the rest of the flock. Also, her pupils are blue.
About 2 months ago, I found her in the morning hanging upside down with her foot caught in the fence. I don't really know how long she was hanging there, but the entire flock was in the coop when I went to bed. She couldn't have been hanging there too long, because it had only been light for about an hour before I went outside to feed them. When I got her off, she seemed shocked, but okay. I set her on the floor of the coop and she found a corner and stayed there most of the day. She was walking around more by the end of the day, but seemed okay.
I found the same hen hurt again this morning. I can't tell if she got caught on something or if she's just being pecked by the others. Her feathers are falling out on her back and when I lifted what was still there, she had a little laceration that was bleeding. I brought her to the food and water and she was pecking at the food, but completely missing. I decided to separate her from the flock for right now and put her in a little coop/enclosure by herself for the time being.
Is there something I can do to test her eyesight and confirm blindness or not?
If she is blind, what are your suggestions??

 

[Alexandra33]

I do believe she's blind, since one of my Barred Rocks lost vision in one eye as a chick. Baby's eye swelled up for about 4 days from unknown causes, and then when she finally opened it again, her pupil looked cloudy, much like your little girl's. A good test (for me anyway) is to wave your hand in front of both eyes, and if she doesn't respond by either moving away or attempting to peck your hand, that's a pretty good indicator that she's unable to see. I would say, though, that as long as she has a good quality of life, she will be just fine under your care. Some things you could do to help her a little would be not to move her food and water just so she knows where everything is, and perhaps help her to roost at night since she probably isn't able to do it herself. I've heard of blind hens before who do just fine despite their disability, so I'm almost positive she'll be the same way.

Best wishes,
-Alex

 

[Sultan Hassan]

I have a Poland chicken and it is doing the same thing, staying in the corner, not coming out of its house, doesn't move when come near her, doesn't peck for food on my hand (when all the others do). There is no white/foggy part but the pupils are always dilated,but she does blink. She always been a calmer and quite chick but I'm worried she cant see and isn't eating as much as the other chickens. I have never seen her drink water either, so I'm not sure she can see it?! not sure what to do! It also isnt that the feathers are in way of slight as they are not over her eyes yet!
thanks