poor vision?5-day-old keet

[scruffysmom]

My now 5 day-old keet looks like he was born yesterday. The other keets he hatched with are at least twice his size. he doesn't seem to be able to see well( if at all). The other keets scatter when I reach into the brooder while he appears to just try to follow their noise. I don't know if he drinks in the brooder. I take him out several times a day, put a waterer in front of him and he seems to know what's there. After he drinks,(takes 3 to 4 sips) he nearly topples over backward lifting his head back to swallow. I've seen him at the feeder in the brooder, picking up the feed but I can't beleive he eats it because he's still so tiny. He does poop though. Any help/advice appreciated. I've grown very attached to Peewee.

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

I do not have keets, but is it possible he is being bullied?


When you bring him out to water him, can you offer him high calorie treats or food then? Maybe mixed with a bit of water?

 

[scruffysmom]

I've not seen the other keets bully him and I spend quite a bit of time with them. I still see him at the feeder , appearing to eat and his crop is like all the others, poops like all the others. He sleeps nestled with the others. He doesn't appear to be in any distress, but when I reach into the brooder the others scatter and he doesn't. I'm really wondering if there's a problem with his vision. When I take him out of the brooder (often) I hold him in one hand and have the waterer in my other hand and he always drinks, 3 or 4 sips. When I put him back in the brooder he goes about his business as usual. He's still less than half the size of the others though.

 

[The Chickens' Maid]

It may help to post this in the Caged Birds section; you may get more responses.

Hope your bird's OK!

 

[Finn's Mom]

There is a section for guineas here in the bottom part of the index with lots of knowledgeable folks. I am new to guineas so don't have any experienced advice to share other than there was a HUGE size disparity in the first week or so between my 8 keets and the small ones were fearless, even friendly. At 4 weeks they are nearly all the same size and all forget who I am in the space of 10 minutes. ( as in run for your lives! it's a food bearing thingy!) Good luck! (wish me luck too!)

 

[The Chickens' Maid]

The Chickens' Maid :

It may help to post this in the Caged Birds section; you may get more responses.

Hope your bird's OK!

Oh, oops, that kind of keet . . .
I thought that you meant a parakeet, sorry.​