Second blind Isa Brown in 2 weeks

[Laceyface]

Hello everyone! I have 3 year old Isa Browns in my flock. 2 weeks ago I found one in the rub, her head, neck, and shoulders were covered in poop, I assumed she got pooped on my a hen above her the night before and it damaged her eyes from the ammonia, but wasn’t sure. We keep a clean coop and they’re all vaxxed against Marek’s.

This morning I came out to find a second one.

HALP! What on earth? Has anyone experienced this? Is it just their natural life cycle winding down? I’m so sad for them and these two are sweethearts and so freaked out.

 

[Eggcessive]

Usually hens get ammonia damage to their corneas from fumes of heavy droppings in a coop. I think if a bird got under a roost and was pooped on, that her eyes would close and protect herself from it getting into the eye. Ammonia fumes can cause corneal ulcers and blindness. Can you post any pictures of your chickens eyes and tell us about your coop and ventilation. It helps to have a few windows which air can ventilate well in chicken coops. I use a fan facing outside in a window to draw fresh air into my coop.

 

[Laceyface]

Usually hens get ammonia damage to their corneas from fumes of heavy droppings in a coop. I think if a bird got under a roost and was pooped on, that her eyes would close and protect herself from it getting into the eye. Ammonia fumes can cause corneal ulcers and blindness. Can you post any pictures of your chickens eyes and tell us about your coop and ventilation. It helps to have a few windows which air can ventilate well in chicken coops. I use a fan facing outside in a window to draw fresh air into my coop.

Usually hens get ammonia damage to their corneas from fumes of heavy droppings in a coop. I think if a bird got under a roost and was pooped on, that her eyes would close and protect herself from it getting into the eye. Ammonia fumes can cause corneal ulcers and blindness. Can you post any pictures of your chickens eyes and tell us about your coop and ventilation. It helps to have a few windows which air can ventilate well in chicken coops. I use a fan facing outside in a window to draw fresh air into my coop.

 

[Laceyface]

Both hens have clear eyes just like this. We have ventilation and windows. When we first got chickens we read so many horror stories about just that, so my husband was deliberate with ventilation.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Can you get a video of her moving about?

Upload video to YouTube and provide a link.

How do you know she's blind?

 

[Laceyface]

Because she can’t see. She can’t see to find food or water, she can’t see to walk, and she can’t see my hand or anything else in front of her eyes.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Poor thing!

I'm not sure what you can do if she's unable to move about eat/drink. Some hens can adapt to their surroundings.

Culling and sending the body to your state lab to find out more might be something to consider since this is the second hen showing up with this.
You can find your lab here https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry-labs.html

 

[Eggcessive]

Do you see any cloudiness in either eye of the chickens? If only one eye is blind, they can usually get around well enough in a familiar environment. But if blind in both eyes, it would be more difficult. Sorry that you are dealing with this.