suddenly blind

[llondon]

Please help my easter egger suddenly is blind. I cannot think of anything she would have gotten into. I just lost 2 chickens 6 days apart from Mareks (I acquired these chicks from a person on craigs list) They died at 9 months old. I keep everything very clean but is this a symptom of Mareks?

 

[chickcrack]

Hello. Sorry for the loss of your birds. I'm unfamiliar with the disease but search ocular Marek's in the search bar for some info. Good luck

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Quote:

Hello. Sorry for the loss of your birds. I'm unfamiliar with the disease but search ocular Marek's in the search bar for some info. Good luck

X2

Welcome to BYC.

Sorry for your loss.

Marek's can present in 3 ways, Ocular is one of them. So if you have had a confirmation necropsy of Marek's then that may be the cause of blindness.

Some people do keep chickens that are blind, so you can look up posts on how to help her. Please do keep in mind that Marek's is contagious and if I read info correctly even if you get rid of (cull) all birds you currently have, Marek's can live up to 7yrs (maybe more) on your property. That is why some people keep closed flocks - don't sell chicks, hatching eggs or give away chickens. There are also folks here that keep Marek's flocks, so you may want to research that as well.


Here is more information on the Marek's:
http://extension.usu.edu/files/publications/publication/AG_Poultry_2013-01pr.pdf
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/90/mareks-disease/

Great article and very good source of information by a BYC member who has Marek's in their flock:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq