[Squiggly]

Hi

I think one of my baby chicks could be blind, she is 3 days old and seems to stumble around a lot, I have shown her where her drinker is and dipped her beak in it but then seemed to struggle to find the water again and kind of pecked all around it before finding it again.

She also seems to be crying a lot as if she can't find the other chicks, now I don't want to cull her unless absolutely necessary, obviously I wont let her suffer but I just wondered if you think she sounds blind and if she is then is there any way of her living a 'normalish' life?

[joyfull]

found this thread on another poultry forum and the second poster has a couple of hens with eye problems (1 totally) which may help you:-

http://www.thepoultrysite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5767

I also knew a chap who had a blind serama and she was living a very happy life with another hen, although being seramas they only had a small run and he said so long as everything was put in the same place it coped very well.

Perhaps you could have a chat with a vet regarding this.

[Squiggly]

Thanks for that Joyful, I googled blind chick and it came back with lots of links that were nothing to do with chickens! 

It sounds like she or he might do ok then, Ill see how she/he goes and have a word with them at work.

Its lovely having you lot here for some quiock reassurance and advice, thank you 

[orchardlady]

Some years ago now I had a hybrid hen that went blind. She did very well in a run and house by herself. I helped her in and out each morning and evening, ensured she was protected from the elements and made sure her food and water remained in the same place..ALWAYS. I kept her like this for just over a year and she was healthy for all of that time apart from the blindness. I decided that I would cull her as we approached a second Winter as I felt that her quality of life was not that great and she had not laid since going blind.

Orchardlady

[Squiggly]

Unfortunately the chick died anyway, well I came in and it was lay on its side with its eyes closed and head right back making slight chirps so we culled it so it didn't suffer any more. 

The other three are doing well though so thats good 

[joyfull]

 , poor wee thing.
Glad the others are ok though 

[Sassy]

It's hard but it sounds as though you did the right thing.

[jaxchucks]

I have had 2 blind chicks this year, they were from different batches and both buff orpingtons.

and although we tried everything to make sure they were eating and drinking we lost them both at 3 days.