I have a blind chicken--anybody here have that issue?

[gonzo granny]

I have a Columbian Rock and some months ago I noticed some strange behavior. She was always hanging to the edge of the flock in the coop. She always came up to me when I was throwing corn but the way she walked--something was different--not right!! Then one day I was able to get a good gawk at her eyes. She has a white opaque film over her pupils! Then after some months later the flock caught on to her handicap and they were laying a beating on her. I moved her into a small run under the length of the nesting boxes and she is oriented to her dishes. I wondered at the get-go if it would be kinder to "send her over that rainbow bridge" but she's been in that little run now all winter and seems to be thriving well. Two barred Plymouths sometimes seem to be keeping her company by sitting right beside the wire that separates them.

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

Ultimately, it's your decision...but I'd base mine on what the disabled animal's quality of life is like. It sounds to me like she's content and able to be as much a chicken as she can be, so I'd conclude that her quality of life is good. Unless that changes, why not let her continue being her unique self?

 

[gonzo granny]

I have no problem with her being blind and her quality of life appears rather good and I intend to keep her as is. It was just that at the get-go when I first realized her condition...I wondered.

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

I don't think you're alone in wondering about the "right" decision early on...it sure seems like yours was right!

It's difficult when you have an animal that seems to need to be separated - maybe, someday, the right companion (maybe not even another chicken) will come along for her. Best wishes to you both.

And I forgot to mention that while I don't have a blind chicken, I do have a visually-impaired drake who doesn't seem to know that he's different.

 

[Talithahorse]

I have a rooster who is entirely blind due to a fox attack. He lives with a very elderly silkie rooster and a couple of silkie hens. As long as I keep his coop the same he does well. I do have to carry him in at night as he isn't always able to find his way back into the coop. I have never seen the others pick on him and he has even been lucky with a hen who just adores him. It can be done. (I have had him about 4 years)