I think the chick is blind?!

[Chicken_Trainer2007]

I’m hatching out Japanese bantams the first one had a complication and needed assistance hatching, she’s fine now. Another chick passed away in the egg. The third chick piped yesterday morning and hatched perfectly and has no issues, and the forth one hatched last night. And in the morning before I left the house I noticed that the fourth chick has a gray looking foggy eye and then the normal black one. I’m worried if this chick is actually blind in one eye, here’s a picture of her foggy gray eye vs her normal eye (I can take more pictures when I get home)

 

[casportpony]

Shine a flashlight on the eye and see what it looks like.

 

[Chicken_Trainer2007]

Shine a flashlight on the eye and see what it looks like.

I just did it’s clear and doesn’t have a pupil like the other eye.

 

[casportpony]

Probably blind in that eye. Do you have any antibiotic eye ointment? You could try that.

 

[Susan Skylark]

Clouding of the cornea doesn’t necessarily mean blindness (cataracts in people, old dogs normally get nuclear sclerosis) but it does reduce the amount of light and detail the bird can see. The pupil is there it is just wide open (as little light is getting through). If the other eye is good, just watch and see how it does. Causes include genetics, injury or incidental from growth or hatching, certain viral diseases (unlikely), infection within the cornea, increased pressure (glaucoma). There isn’t really a good treatment, if it is a quiet eye, and doesn’t bug her, that’s fine but if it is painful or chronically inflamed or infected removal is recommended. Putting drops of any sort in it may make you feel like you’re doing something but won’t affect the prognosis, this isn’t a conjunctivitis or a corneal ulcer. If you have the option of a ceramic heat lamp instead of a light bulb it may be more comfortable as there is less glare for the questionable eye but not mandatory.

 

[Chicken_Trainer2007]

Clouding of the cornea doesn’t necessarily mean blindness (cataracts in people, old dogs normally get nuclear sclerosis) but it does reduce the amount of light and detail the bird can see. The pupil is there it is just wide open (as little light is getting through). If the other eye is good, just watch and see how it does. Causes include genetics, injury or incidental from growth or hatching, certain viral diseases (unlikely), infection within the cornea, increased pressure (glaucoma). There isn’t really a good treatment, if it is a quiet eye, and doesn’t bug her, that’s fine but if it is painful or chronically inflamed or infected removal is recommended. Putting drops of any sort in it may make you feel like you’re doing something but won’t affect the prognosis, this isn’t a conjunctivitis or a corneal ulcer. If you have the option of a ceramic heat lamp instead of a light bulb it may be more comfortable as there is less glare for the questionable eye but not mandatory.

She just hatched out, so she’s under a heat plate. I’m planning on holding onto her to see if she needs serious treatment and care or if she needs to be culled. She seems unbothered by her eye but she does seem to be looking around with her good eye, thank you so much, I’ll definitely watch her closely. I do know how to take care of blind chickens but I’ve never had a chick hatch out like this, I do have 11 more eggs of the same parents so if it’s a genetic thing I’ll make sure not to breed them again. Thank you once again!

 

[BoundlessLove]

When the chick walks, notice if it can keep its balance. Walk straight.
If it bumps into things on that side.