SILKIES owners ... Do you pluck or cut, so they can see?

[kathyinmo]

I am new to chickens, and even newer to Silkies. I have a trio that are a year old. They walk around as if they are blind, because they can not see, with their eyes totally covered. They bump into things, and can't even see their food.

Do I cut the area around their eyes, or do I pluck it? I am determined to do this. These are just pets, not show birds.

 

[briteday]

For just pets we trim around the eyes with baby scissors, the type with rounded points. We go up from the bottom of the "pouf" so that we can see their eyes. If I can't see their eyes I figure they can't see their food. So hold them up to your eye level and see if you can see their eyes, then trim from there. I think it would also help them in the case of approaching predators. Although the rest of my flock and one rooster would be alerting the girls at the first sign of trouble. My silkies are a bit mentally dull though and may not take the warning seriously until too late. So I choose to let them see rather than risk more serious consequences. Also, while handling the head during clipping be sure to be gentle with the top of the head as their skull does not usually cover their brain, they only have skin and feathers covering their brain, no boney skull.

 

[kathyinmo]

Oh, thanks so much. Tomorrow, they will see!