Visual impared pullet

[ozzy chooks]

Hi,weird question, but ...
I was wondering if anybody had experience with a pullet with sight problems and how to be sure.

I had issues with my broody hatching eggs - long story short - 2 chicks died because I believe she pecked them by mistake and 2 chicks I put under her had to be rescued because she attacked them.

Yesterday she finally hatched a healthy chick. The way they interact makes me believe she locates the chick by sound more than seeing it. She can see it when the chick is very close. And this might explain why she attacked the live chicks and why she broke the yolk of the hatching chicks.
Can it be possible?
If so how can I be 100% sure?
Does anybody have had a hen with sight problems?

I had another broody previously hatching 6 chicks, so it's not the first time I see chicks and their mummy interact at days old.

Thanks

 

[Wyorp Rock]

So is this the broody you think can't see well?
Photos of the eyes?

Try testing her vision somehow - hold treats at different distances/heights, see if she responds.

 

[ozzy chooks]

Her eyes look normal. Will try to take a picture tomorrow.

She doesn't really get the treats. Tonight I tried with a snail and she didn't get it.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Her eyes look normal. Will try to take a picture tomorrow.

She doesn't really get the treats. Tonight I tried with a snail and she didn't get it.

Does she normally eat snails?
You might want to use something that she would normally eat - a little scratch, a bit of chopped tomato or similar.

 

[staceyj]

Snails can be an intermediate host for parasites btw.
Full of protein? Yes. But also full of potential ... worms.

 

[aart]

I had a hen apparently go blind in one eye due to heat stroke.
I could tell by moving my hand towards each side of her head,
one side she reacted to, the other she did not until hand got close enough to touch.
This was fairly easy to do as she was rather lethargic and I had gotten her settled on my lap.
She recovered with some electrolytes BTW.

 

[Alexandra33]

I could tell by moving my hand towards each side of her head,
one side she reacted to, the other she did not until hand got close enough to touch.

This. I've always determined whether my hens were blind by judging their reaction to hand motions.

Would you try it, and post results?

~Alex

 

[ozzy chooks]

Certainly the pullet is not blind, but it seems to me like dhe cannot see clearly to aim properly at things including food.
I will try to make a video and post it.

Today she was more active with the chick, which was encouraging!
Thanks!

 

[ozzy chooks]

Snails can be an intermediate host for parasites btw.
Full of protein? Yes. But also full of potential ... worms.

Sorry it wasn't a snail, it was a slug (without shell). Normally she was eating those but when with the other chooks, she is not the fastest and not top of the pecking order, so she normally get in later, which makes hard to tell whether she sees it properly or follow the others.