What could have caused this? Cockerel's weird pupil . . .

[The Chickens' Maid]

Is this just genetic? I don't think he had this when he was a chick, at least I didn't notice it. He can still see through that eye a far as I can tell. It dilates and retracts just the same, too. He has three siblings who don't have anything like this. He is a BO/silkie cross. Anyone have any ideas? Thanks!

Here's his normal eye.

 

[SeramaLife]

Maybe ocular Marek's?

 

[The Chickens' Maid]

Oh, I hope not! I never saw any symptoms, though. Aside from some respiratory problems that we are taking care of now, he seems healthy as a horse!

 

[The Chickens' Maid]

I looked up a little about ocular mareks. If this is mareks, does that mean that the rest of the flock could get it, not in the ocular form?
We have five seven week old chicks and three other six month olds, are they at the most risk?

 

[horsejody]

The ocular form and the paralysis form are different. That's why the vaccine only protects against the one that causes paralysis.

 

[horsejody]

http://www.cvm.ncsu.edu/dphp/phm/documents/2007ACVPposter.pdf

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marek's_disease

These pages show photos. Maybe I'm wrong, but that doesn't look like the OP's chicken's eye.

 

[SeramaLife]

Has it been like this since hatching? It could be something genetic........

 

[silkiechicken]

Some animals do just develop cataracts, so maybe it's just that.

 

[The Chickens' Maid]

I'm not sure if he's had it since hatching. He might have and I just didn't notice. It seems to work normally and it looks healthy.