johnandkymberley Posted May 21, 2011 Share Posted May 21, 2011 Hi all, a few months back - maybe 8-9 months exactly, my poor willow got something in her eye, i thought it was anti pek spray but turned out to be Hazel had pecked her eye,after treatment etc, the vets said she will never lay again blah blah blah, once we had finished giving her 3 meds a day, she has laid one everyday since - shows what an avian (sp?) vet knows! Anyway we think she can see big shadows out of her bad eye, it is cloudy like a blind person eyes sometimes, but she misses mealworms etc so we always put a bit down beside her left eye so she can see, she is a little slower at seeing the others etc around her, and sometimes walks off thinking they are with her when she looks round the are not (i dont know if its just our hens but they walk around the garden together) So shes a little slower, shes my baby though - she will quite happily sit on my knee and sleep, bear in mind she is a white star as well which are skittish at the best of times, but i think with all the handling from meds she has become less fearful, really she hasnt got the reaction of the others, hens dont miss a thing but sometimes she does, i was laying in the bath last night ( not an egg before anyone says it!!! ) and just wondered am i being cruel? it doesnt cause her pain as you can touch it and she doesnt move and she is laying so must be feeling happy/ok, but i dont want her to feel like she is suffering? OH doesnt think so but wanted to know other views on this, i dont want to have her put down AT ALL, but i dont want to think of her suffering either, Any views on this? xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poached Egg Posted May 21, 2011 Share Posted May 21, 2011 I think you are being caring,as long as she is eating and mobile and not in distress then her quality of life is good. As she is laying then it seems she is quite happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted May 21, 2011 Share Posted May 21, 2011 Awwww.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 Guess it's down to quality of life and if she is being bullied all the time then that might be the answer but she sounds as though she is doing great. Well done No I would not have her put down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hibbyjint Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 Hi J&K, this is quite a coincidence as I was just about to post a question relating to Betty, our Columbine. A few days ago I noticed that her left eye was closed. It seemed irritated but otherwise she was fine and still laying. She then missed laying for 3 days (very unusual) tho she layed again today. Her eye still isn't right and sounds very similar to Willow's eye. I think it's time to take her to the vet but unfortunately our vet doesn't have much (any) experience of chickens. It would be good to know what medication you gave to Willow as it sound like it has helped. Any advice would be welcome. Thanks Jeanette. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnandkymberley Posted May 23, 2011 Author Share Posted May 23, 2011 Hi hibbyjint, sorry to hear about Betty, is she eating and drinking as normal? Willow was always VERY thirsty for some reason, her meds where metacam- painkiller - twice a day and eye drops called fucithalmic - 3 times a day, she was on antibiotics - three times a day, as she had a bit of cold and me and vet thought she was very poorly so an extra thing to fight off wouldnt be good, however Betty might not have that could of just been Willows luck! She was seperated in the eglu for a about 3 weeks, she still freeranged with the others but once her meds finished she was taking herself to bed in the cube, the first time i pulled her out and put her in the eglu but the second time i didnt have the heart to do it, she was all snuggled up with Lily, my other white star, she must have been so lonely in the eglu and since then she has been fine, laying a tasty for her mummy every morning! she is my baby though and does get special treatment, usually i pick her up whilst im in doing jobs like filling up feeders or something and she just falls asleep in my arms, obviously alot of contact was needed and laying her down to put eye drops and liquid in her beak in was quite difficult first off but i think she realised we were helping her so in the end just let us! she loves her cuddles though and if im outside will quite often come over and jump on my knee for a stroke, shes just a bit slower than the others, things like mealworms she cant see so we always put some down just for her on her left side etc but if she has got pecked or something in her eye i hope Betty can get better like willow, is her eye cloudy or clear? does her pupil move to see or stays still? my vet wanted to take Willows eye out or sew it up, i point blank said no, if willow was going to pass away it would be natural not like that, im glad i stuck to my guns with that! - Let me know how shes getting on and if i can help anymore let me know xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hibbyjint Posted May 23, 2011 Share Posted May 23, 2011 Thanks for the info J & K. Yes Betty is eating and drinking normally and laid again today. Her eye is open some of the time which is an improvement. The only noticeable thing, apart from no egg for that period of 3 days, is that she is a bit slower to react when mealworms or corn thrown which I suppose is understandable if her vision is impaired. No sign of anything else wrong i.e. breathing ok and no snuffles. Thanks again. J Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnandkymberley Posted May 23, 2011 Author Share Posted May 23, 2011 Oh, very good betty !!! For now then i think she is fine, but you will obviously keep an eye on her and see how she gets on, but there are the medicines that helped willow get better so least you could buy them if needed, would recommend them all day long, deffo the metacam, it was amazing! xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MummyHen Posted May 23, 2011 Share Posted May 23, 2011 One of my Orpingtons is blind / partially sighted - she sees some things but not well enough to peck a mealworm or an individual kernel of corn. She knows where the grub and glugs are - but I do weigh her each week to make sure her weight doesn't drop too much and if it get low she has individual dining away from the others of high protein food like tuna mixed with fresh corn & garvo mash. She knows her name and will come towards us when we call her - she is such a character. She's never been to the vet - I don't see the point in stressing her out as long as she's chickening around, eating and drinking etc. I'm sure that both your hens will continue to chicken around with on going good care & attention. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnandkymberley Posted May 25, 2011 Author Share Posted May 25, 2011 thanks mummyhen, im glad there are more hens out there that have the same visual probs! i think aslong as they are happy why not? i really do love willow, she is my baby but i wouldnt not have her because of her eye, her personality is lovely, she is so loving, will come and jump on my knee whilst im reading a book etc! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hibbyjint Posted June 4, 2011 Share Posted June 4, 2011 Hi all, Just to report that Betty's eye has returned to normal and after having another few days off laying she is back to laying her lovely blue eggs daily Looks like it was just a temporary blip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnandkymberley Posted June 4, 2011 Author Share Posted June 4, 2011 Oh congrats betty and you hibby! bet you are both sooo pleased! great news xxxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
