Poults Going Blind?

[silenthawk2x3]

I posted this in the turkey forum, but I'm quickly beginning to think that this might be an emergency if it is contagious.

It seems that both of my blue slate (blue) poults, one 4 days old, the other 7 days old, have gone blind? They obviously weren't when they hatched, they found food and water after some coaxing and had to be visually enticed to eat. Now they have no reaction to nearly poking them in the eyes, and wander into the waterer and listen to the chicks I am brooding them with to find the food. The other two eggs that were under their turkey hen mom both died late in incubation (1 - 2 days to hatch) to what I took an educated guess to be a bacterial infection. Is this the same thing? Is it contagious? What should I do? My chicks have been in the incubator with the turkeys for two days, should I quarantine?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Are you sure they have been eating up to this point? What are you feeding them? I might try some sugar water to see if it perks them up.

 

[silenthawk2x3]

I'm sure they are eating. They're growing well enough and their feathers are coming in. They have been sleeping face down in the feeder. Everyone is getting Kalmbach Chick Starter and I just gave them a hard boiled egg because one chick (Cochin bantams) seemed to not be growing as quickly. That was when I noticed the problem as the poults would peck at the plate and under it repeatedly and it went beyond "stupid turkey" issues. I checked and their pupils still dilate, but short of me poking them in the eyes they do not respond.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Have you checked the manufacturing date on your feed to make sure it isn't too old. Older feeds will lose vitamins. Turkey poults should technically get more protein than chick starter for the first 4 weeks, though I have raised them on it. I give a daily helping of scrambled eggs to boost their protein.

Could the chicks have pecked their eyes?

Is your brooder clean and well ventilated? Ammonia build up can damage corneas. Have you looked for any damage to the eyes?

Another option is they hatched blind or with damaged eyes due to genetics.

Some respiratory infections can affect the eyesight.

 

[silenthawk2x3]

The feed is fresh (I work at the store), their eyes are clear, no obvious scratches, oozing, redness etc., I brood in 55 gallon totes with a layer of pellet horse bedding and hay or pine on top. The horse bedding absorbs moisture and then turns into sawdust, which as far as I'm concerned makes it better than sliced bread. They're about 80% clean as of tonight. The ducks... not so much, but at least they are dry! My thoughts are leaning towards genetic or bacterial infection.