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[CluckyBucks]

Hello

 

Recently, one of my hens has been keeping her left eye lid shut, only opening it occasionally. A few days ago, i noticed that her eye had changed colour from golden to deep brown and i am a little worried. I move my finger up to her eye to check her reflexes and there is little or no reaction

 

I just wondered if anybody else could share their knowledge with me about blindness in chickens.

 

xx xx

[keyhole kate]

Oddly enough Teabag told me today that she had a hen that was blind perhaps PM her for some advice

[Sheilaz]

Thanks KeyholeKate, yes that's right Lavender was blind in one eye from early on, which caused no problems at all, then latterly in both eyes, which required coping strategies.

Thanks for pm Cluckybucks, I'd be happy to help. I have to go out right now, but I'll reply properly later.

[witzend]

I'm sure a few people are dying to ask you - what were/are the coping strategies for a blind chicken?

[CluckyBucks]

Okay, thanks ever so much

 

xx !eggwhite!xx

[Sheilaz]

Right, back again, with coping strategies and all.

Firstly, can she find her food?

I only realised that Lavender was blind in one eye because it looked different, sort of pale iris & pinhead size pupil. Testing her vision, I found that she didn't notice activity on that side, perhaps still seeing vague shapes and light/dark difference, but missing most things. However, she was well in every other respect, eating and drinking, and not picked upon. I think she was coping by following what Bluebelle did, and therefore still part of the flock. The eye wasn't sticky or shut, and her health was fine, otherwise the advice would be different.

 

Lavender lived her first few years blind in one eye happily with the flock with no extra measures needed at all, other than sneaking individual treats to her.

However, her last 9 months, she had become identically blind in the other eye, sometimes shutting it too. I only noticed when I scattered corn and she couldn't peck it, she kept missing. She was underweight and it was lucky I realised, she was still finding her way around and disguising the condition. To build her up, I brought her in daily, for individual feeding, for a couple of weeks. After that, I looked at the set up in the run.

 

Until her last day (she died of old age recently) she could always find the water glug, and the Cube ladder etc.

Food; I had to eventually put a Grub in the run daily, where she'd find it, but also tended to bring her out for individual feeding and treats, so she did need special attention when it was both eyes. She was a remarkable bird, I think she may have developed her echo location sense, and had a routine of coming to a particular spot & cooing to be picked up when she heard me coming.

 

Other than missing treats, one eye made no difference, but only because the other hens didn't notice a change. I've no idea of the cause of this blindness.

All the best for you and your hen, do ask any further questions.

[witzend]

both she and you sound remarkable - thank you for sharing this x

[Sheilaz]

Thank you, she was remarkable, and I was lucky that her blindness coincided with my being at home a lot with my elderly Mother. The two of they had a very special bond, both seeking out each other.

 

Here's a relevant topic;

blind chicken

[witzend]

are sight problems common? Do we know what causes them?

[CluckyBucks]

Thankyou this has been such a massive help

 

Rogina's eye colour is darker in the eye that is blind and her pupil is massive; she seems totally normal, other than sometimes bumping into things on her left I now feel less worried and more clued up about what to do if she becomes completely blind, she is 5 years old I think she is getting used to it too, and non of my other hens have noticed.

 

Thanks again, i will be sure to ask any further questions if they pop into my head

 

xx xx