OMG!!! Duck born without eyes! ***UPDATE!! 11/01 with pics***

[TriciaHowe]

I had a blind chick hatch out very similar to that. Unfortunately she didn't make it

If you would like a humane way to cull if you decide to please pm me. I use the carbon dioxide method for babies and it works quickly and easy to put together. I wish you the best of luck whatever choice you make....

 

[bufforp89]

I like the idea of waiting a few days to see if the other eye opens up, I have been wanting a house duck anyways lol seriously though I only want what is best for the little guy...my other blind animals became blind later in life but to be born blind I cant imagine......

 

[GreenGoddess]

Think of it this way.. You have been seeing your entire life.. One day, you lose your sight due to illness or injury.. It is very difficult to adapt because you are so used to having your sight.. Whereas, someone who is blind from birth knows no different.. They learn to do things with other senses naturally...

Goddess

 

[tnchickenut]

i agree with greengoddess... if it's born that way being blind is it's normal. I'd give it at least two days to see if that other eye opens up. I hate to put animals down, even when it is needed. (and I have had some that it was very needed) If you don't mind taking the time to pamper that duck (you may not even need to if the other eye opens), then let it live. Don't breed it though.

 

[SilverPhoenix]

I don't think there's any reason to cull if the duck otherwise seems healthy and you're willing to try and accommodate for its needs. It may do fine with other ducks, using its hearing and memory to locate food and water, or as you were saying you could keep it as a house duck. An animal that's born blind doesn't know it's missing out on anything, so I think (unless there are more things wrong as well) it can easily have a good quality of life and be happy. The other eye could open up given time, too.

Good luck, I hope the baby does all right. If you don't feel you can accommodate for it, I'll bet there would be someone else who would be willing to try. I almost adopted a blind duckling when I was a child, but someone else with ducks adopted him instead. If I was nearby, I would consider taking it myself.

If it ends up having other complicated issues or doesn't seem able to live a quality of life, then of course I think culling is probably the best option. Otherwise, why not give it a chance?

 

[key west chick]

I say if you can take the time to provide for this special duckie, give it a chance.

 

[RachelFromTheBlackLagoon]

I also vote give it a chance. There are plenty of people and animals who lack the ability to see and manage just fine. It sounds like you're willing to give the extra effort that a special needs pet requires. I don't believe that being blind is a good reason to end a life. As others have said, this duckling will know no different. I also agree that if you can't or don't want to put in the extra effort it's likely that someone else will. Good luck!

 

[edselpdx]

It likely has other genetic anomalies that you may not be able to determine yet. I personally would cull, but that's certainly your choice to make. I've also never had to cull, as I just have 3 chickens in the backyard and don't breed. If you are willing to take on the challenge of a bird that requires special care, you can give it a chance, but my guess is that it has other developmental or anatomical problems that may not yet have shown themselves. You will need to make sure it can find food and water and that they are always in the same place. It will be particularly vulnerable to predators, of course. There are threads on blind chickens and how people help them accommodate to their disability, and possibly a few about ducks as well. Try searching the site if you wish to give it a chance.

 

[NicInNC]

If it were me, I would give it a chance at life. Who knows what all it may be able to accomplish. It just might surprise you. Heck, a movie may even be made about him/her one day!

 

[HorseFeathers]

If it is acting normally otherwise and you can commit to taking special care of it, I'd let it live (for a while at least). Otherwise... do the humane thing, and cull.