I think he can't see

[Sugar Sand Farm]

What would make an otherwise healthy cockerel suddenly have trouble seeing. This morning I noticed that one of my white orp cockerels was hiding. When I went near he did evrything in his pwer to get away hitting the fence,walls, tripping over the feeder and waterer. I picked him up and he was making this terrible squealing sound like he was terrified. I put him back down and put some ffod and water in his hiding place. He stood there most of the morning in one spot. He didn't move until someone or something came near his hiding spot. I am convinenced he cant see. I put him in a separate pen for the night but I don't think he can find the food and water. Any ideas on what would cause this so suddenly. He was hatched May 31 and has been healthy until now. He get medicated chick starter. His poo is fine. no othr symptoms at all. His eyes do not look cloudy or anything but when I waved my hand near his face he didn't move. Any help would be appreciated . Micki

 

[ivan3]

Since there are no other symptoms I'd guess either injury or some congenital problem with circulation just now making itself known.

Go out and check him after dark, use a pen light to check his pupils (should constrict when you shine the light at eyes).

I read of someone who was able to train their blind chook to use sound to find food and water bowls.

Hoping this was the result of an injury and will resolve itself.

Get a box of mealworms (or some moths that are half squashed, but still moving and place those where he `can see' them (a good test).

Other causes of blindness in chooks: Lead poisoning and:

“Poultry: Blindness may be the result of excessive ammonia fumes from deep litter, or it may be associated with fowl paralysis, salmonellosis, aspergillosis, etc.. Cataract, followed in some cases by liquefaction of the lens, occurs during outbreaks of avian infectious encephalomyelitis.”

Black’s Veterinary Dictionary