My hen is blind

[Kait_hubb]

Our 6 month old hen has been acting strange the past few months; walking into fences, walking into other chickens and avoiding the flock completely. We had a feeling she was blind or something wrong neurologically. On closer inspection we’ve found her eyes are indeed cloudy which is heartbreaking. I just need advice on how to move forward with her, her brooder mates still tag along with her and she listens for them and follows them to food and water pretty well but she gets picked on often by the older flock.

 

[KtheChickenGal]

Our 6 month old hen has been acting strange the past few months; walking into fences, walking into other chickens and avoiding the flock completely. We had a feeling she was blind or something wrong neurologically. On closer inspection we’ve found her eyes are indeed cloudy which is heartbreaking. I just need advice on how to move forward with her, her brooder mates still tag along with her and she listens for them and follows them to food and water pretty well but she gets picked on often by the older flock.
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I'm so sorry. ❤
Can she function with the flock? I would separate her... are you willing to take her to the vet, or keep her separated and as a pet possibly for the rest of her life?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Here's an article you may find helpful.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/caring-for-a-blind-chicken.79779/

 

[Eggcessive]

I agree the eyes look cloudy, which can be a sign of cataracts and blindness. How is the coop ventilation? Do you have windows with overhead ventilation? Is there an ammonia odor in the coop from bedding? What is the diet?

 

[Kait_hubb]

I'm so sorry. ❤
Can she function with the flock? I would separate her... are you willing to take her to the vet, or keep her separated and as a pet possibly for the rest of her life?

Our local vets don’t see chickens unfortunately. Shes close to her two sisters that hatched with her and follows them around well, the rest of the flock accepts her for the most part from what I can see. She really doesn’t like being too close to me or other people so I don’t know if she’d like being a pet

 

[Kait_hubb]

I agree the eyes look cloudy, which can be a sign of cataracts and blindness. How is the coop ventilation? Do you have windows with overhead ventilation? Is there an ammonia odor in the coop from bedding? What is the diet?

She stayed in the brooder for a month the first point in her life, seemed bright and healthy. I then put her and her two sisters in a spare coop of mind which has sand and wood chip bedding on the floor and she stayed in that for about another two months before she become free range with the rest. I’ve only noticed the blindness the last month or two when she was outside but didn’t see any blind symptoms while she was cooped up.

I agree the eyes look cloudy, which can be a sign of cataracts and blindness. How is the coop ventilation? Do you have windows with overhead ventilation? Is there an ammonia odor in the coop from bedding? What is the diet?

 

[KtheChickenGal]

Our local vets don’t see chickens unfortunately. Shes close to her two sisters that hatched with her and follows them around well, the rest of the flock accepts her for the most part from what I can see. She really doesn’t like being too close to me or other people so I don’t know if she’d like being a pet

That's good that she's not getting terribly bullied!!

 

[sourland]

Provide feed and water in consistent places and watch to make sure flock mates are not picking on her, and she can do amazingly well.