Lethargic, blind chicken. What to do...

Hi,

My name is Gem, and I live in Australia.

I am writing in regards to a pet chicken of mine, who has quite a story, and I am seeking secondary opinions as to my best options.

She is a frizzle bantam, approximately three years old, weighing in at 0.7 kg (1.5lb), which I am told is a good weight for her breed. She lived with my mother, who apparently was oblivious to her problems, and I have since taken her under my care (in a different city) just recently.

Health and issues

She is blind in both eyes, due to differing causes. Her left is said to be heriditary, or possibly due to optic nerve damage; there is no pupil dilation in respone to light. Her right eye's cornea may have been injured some time ago, resulting in an infection, which is now scar tissue.

She is very tired (lethargic), nods her head and tends to sleep a lot. Some days she is more active. When frustrated she walks in circles. She doesn't talk much, which is normal for her as she was never a talker.

She hasn't layed any eggs since her blindness, however we recently received two eggs last week, which I think is in response to the heightened level of care.

I am also concerned with a recent habit of hers, which is to snap/grind her beak.

She has been lethargic since her blindness was instigated during March this year. Her pale appearance also concerns me, although this was only brought to my attention by a natural vet, so I not sure what a 'normal' colour for a chicken is.

Her poops are also normal in appearance, green/brown with white and are spherical.

Despite being blind, she must still have sense of light because she recognises when it is time to awake in the morning and goto sleep for the night. She also looks around tentitively, as is she has some sense there is living presence around her.

Current treatments

For treatment of tiredness, I have attempted sunning, grass and supervised outdoor times, but she rathers sleeping/resting. Each time I awake her, she pecks around for food briefly and then nods off again. My natural vet gave Ba Zhen Wan balls as an energy supplement, 1 per day, however no improvement is apparent since Monday's initial dose.

I thought the snapping/grinding of her beak was due to her natural beak growth; since she is indoors as has had no access to stones and dirt in general. Because of this, I have trimmed her beak, to more resemble the right shape it originally displayed, and also filed it gently to shape. At this stage I am uncertain as to whether this has fixed her beak issue, but I have heard less grinding action.

Today I tried giving her vitamin D3 supplement, in a very small single dose to supplement natural direct sunlight.

Living and feeding arrangements

She lives on a vinyl floor, and now has a brick on which she enjoys perching as well as some light hay/straw and other perching objects which she does find via trial and error. She is away from other birds. She has lived inside for the past two weeks as she was not receiving adequate care in ragards to feeding, and was also being picked on by other chickens.

Her eating habits in general appear normal - when she is awake. Her food employs a free range poultry mix (various grains, grit and fibrous matter), as well as fresh greens (rocket/spinach/alfalfa) which she enjoys. Occasionally she will scratch normally, seeking out worms as any chicken would. I have been emulating worms with the use of bean sprouts, which she loves.

She is next to the window, with indirect sunlight, and an open window to allow for air and natural noises. At night she returns to her box, with assistance, and perches for the night. She has scattered food below her as a snack, which she does utilise.

Opinions

Some vets comment on her abilities to survive up to this point, and have stated that if she receives adequate food and water, she should be fine. Another questions her quality of life, with respect to that of a normal chicken, and recommends that if this does not improve shortly that she be placed to rest.

As I mentioned, I am seeking other opinions, because on one hand I do not wish for her to suffer, but on the other have some hope that despite being blind, she may be able to live, albeit differently from most normal chickens.

Thankyou for reading, I hope my post covers the requirements for you all to make an informed judgement.

Regards,

Gem

 

Thank you all so much for your kind messages.

In response to WoodlandWoman, it's not necessarily her comb or wattles, they are a bright rosy red. Her face is apparently pale with respect to other chickens in her opinion... which I was unsure of.

Also, I do talk to her normally as well as chicken speak, as does my boyfriend, who is actually much better at doing it than myself.

I am going to give her time, and see how she goes.

Is there anything else I can or should be doing for her, other than what I already am? Even the smallest of things may help her recovery and adjustment to a new and hopefully sustained life.