MY CHICKEN NEEDS GLASSES OR CONTACTS! SERIOUSLY!

[crazy huhn]

My 25 week old Cochin pullet needs glasses or contacts.

Seriously, if we throw some scratch in the run, she tries to get it, but misses it every time. So I usually pick her up and hand feed her some. She weighs about the same than my other pullets who hatched the same day, so it does not seem to be an issue with her normal layer feed, but I feel kind of sorry for her.

 

[birdlover]

Well, she very well could be blind. If you keep the feeders and waterers in the same place, she has learned to find them and, thus, not starve to death. Keep a close eye on her and see if she acts like she may be blind. If you conclude that she is, just keep your feeders and waterers in the same place so she knows where they are. Does she roost with the others at night? Maybe she's just nearsighted??

 

[crazy huhn]

Yes, she roosts with the others and I have not noticed any other problems, so I do not think that she is blind. Feeder and water are always at the same spot in the coop, but it changes in the run.
I did not know, that chickens can be nearsighted, but it makes perfectly sense.

 

[bearz]

My mom grew up on a hatchery. She's 80 years old. They had 1000s of chickens at a time. She has talked many times about how her dad would put little glasses on some of the chickens to help them see, so yes, chickens can have vision problems.

 

[texasbartrambaby]

 

[SpottedCrow]

My Slifer was nearsighted. She'd peck and miss a few times too.