What causes a chick to be born with no eyes?

[ArizonaNessa]

I have never heard of them being hatched without eyes but I did own a black tail buff japanese once that was hatched with no wings. No wings at all not even little nubs where wings should be. She lived to be 2 years old and passed quietly in the night. I figure she may have been missing something else inside. I had a hen that went blind and I chose not to cull her because she seemed to just know how to get around. Every now and then she would bump into something because we moved an object but other than that she did well. With the chick not having eyes it can never learn how to eat and stuff or at least that is what I would think. Therefore I would have to say I would probably cull it even though it would break my heart. I am so sorry.

 

[Germaine_11.20]

I am going to wait til tomorrow and see how it is doing. I know I could never breed it, but I just don't want to cull her yet.
Thanks everyone. This is so sad.

 

[Bird Brain]

I would personally give the chick time and see how it does. You could always do the bad deed later if needed, but why not just see what the little fella can or cant do.

 

[ginbart]

I’m sure you checked but it doesn’t hurt in asking you, did you make sure the eyes are just not matted shut. I know you said the shell was stuck to it. Just trying to help.

 

[becky3086]

Oh if it was me, I would nurse it along forever, just the way I am. I can't cull the unfortunate ones.

 

[Feathered Wings]

I Hatch a good number of chicks each year and will open the unhatched ones to see what went wrong.
Its also a good determination for genetic defects in breeders.

I opened a egg about 2 years ago that was the only one that didn't hatch out of a clutch.
I was shocked it was fully developed but had no eyes or brain or upper skull just a beak with a empty indention behind it where the skull and brain would be.

Please do the humane thing for this chick and cull it sometimes we think we can be a hero and save these.
But what kind of life will it lead it can't follow the other chicks around or even forage for food or water.
Look into the future not at the chick and see where it will be 1 month from now and how will you feel
It may lead a life of isolation and never fit in with the others.
It will need constant supervision are you willing to put in the time it takes to care for this handicapped chick?

 

[cutabird]

Thank you for the support. This is not going to be easy. The little sweetie is such a fighter. It just seems wrong, but I know it is going to suffer and never would make it without help.

I had a chick born with no eyes. We kept one other chick with her. They rely on each other and are doing great. She is almost 4 months old, very healthy and gets around just fine. Finds the food and water with no problem. Hope your baby does as well!

 

[K0k0shka]

I had a chick born with no eyes. We kept one other chick with her. They rely on each other and are doing great. She is almost 4 months old, very healthy and gets around just fine. Finds the food and water with no problem. Hope your baby does as well!

This thread is 2 years old...

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

This thread is 2 years old...

12 years old. Edited because I didn't count right

 

[K0k0shka]

13 years old

Oh man that's right. 12 in fact. Even worse