blind?

[WstTxLady]

Im beginning to think that one of my 3+ yr old Silver Laced Wyandotte hens is blind or mostly blind.

Last night, after the hens where shut in the coop for a while, I went in to spray certain ones for mites. I had my flashlight moving & notices this particular one didn't react to it like the rest did. I moved the light over her eyes w/ little to no reaction & little dilation of her eyes.

I did a few light tests & her eyes weren't dilating like normal. I waved my hand by her face & she didn't react, on either side. The others made it very apparent that they saw my hand by ducking & dodging.

Lately I noticed she was always the last one off the roost & out of the coop in the morning. I'm beginning to think that she is following the sounds of the others out of the coop & into the yard where they hang out under stuff.

I can't see anything on or in her eyes. Beats me. Just never knew I'd have a hen go blind on me w/ out warning or cause. Couple years ago, she did have wet fowl pox that I had to keep her eyes cleaned of those scab looking things. Makes me think it messed her eyes up & they are now taking toll.

[Cyngbaeld]

Yes if they get wet fowl pox in their eyes it can blind them. As long as she is keeping her weight on, I'd let her be. If she starts losing weight or the others start pecking her, you'll probably want to cull her.

[oregon woodsmok]

She seems to have adapted or it wouldn't have taken you any time at all to notice. So, I'd let her be.

Maybe not move objects around to new locations. She knows where everything is located now.

[WstTxLady]

She still eating & drinking good. From smell & memory, she knows where the food & water is. Im going to let her be & live her life out.

[barnyardgal]

I have a chicken that looks to have a cateract on her right eye,it is a white spot & now she seems like she only sees shadows in the other eye...so far she is doing ok with eating & getting around...I think she listens to the other chickens moving around for her to get around..

I will let her live as long as she is able to eat & get around okay..she is one of my favorites to..

[WstTxLady]

I gave her some b-12 booster through a syringe yesterday, she drank it down but this morning she was just hanging out in the floor of the coop by the water. Hubby said if she isn't better in a day or so, he doesn't want to but will put her down. I noticed that her breast near her keel bone is starting to loose mass, so she isn't eating as much. There was food & water in her craw before roost but still.

[WstTxLady]

Well she went downhill in a hurry. Today should could barely get around & when I checked on her this evening, she couldn't walk & ants were crawling on her. We popped her neck & put her out of her misery.