Chicken confused

[Eggcessive]

It would be good to know if her pupils are equal, and round, and black. Are the colored irises bright and normal colored? Or are they dull or faded or grayish? Is there any cloudiness in the pupils?

 

[coach723]

I have a blind bird. I keep her in a separate smaller run inside my main run, with one other hen for company. It is very secure from predators. There is a dustbath in one corner. She used to go outside for periods but no longer does as she gets too confused and upset. The food and water is always in the same place so she can find it. The area is smaller so she can't get too "lost". She is happier there and safer, and she isn't picked on by others. But she can hear everybody, lay next to others on the other side of the wire, and talk to them. She still will often join someones egg song (she no longer lays). When I fill her feeder or waterer I talk to her and tap on it so she can hear where it is (and where I am), I try not to startle her or 'sneak' up on her. She does better with the feeder on a solid surface (I use a concrete block) rather than hanging it, where it can move and swing, which makes it hard for her to hit it. I have a large plastic airline dog crate with shavings in it that she sleeps in, as she cannot navigate roosts. I also monitor her weight, to make sure she's getting enough. If yours is really blind, then with some help, she can still do well. You may have to help her find food and water initially, until she learns where it is. And then make sure it's always in the same place.

 

[dianefbarfield]

I have a blind bird. I keep her in a separate smaller run inside my main run, with one other hen for company. It is very secure from predators. There is a dustbath in one corner. She used to go outside for periods but no longer does as she gets too confused and upset. The food and water is always in the same place so she can find it. The area is smaller so she can't get too "lost". She is happier there and safer, and she isn't picked on by others. But she can hear everybody, lay next to others on the other side of the wire, and talk to them. She still will often join someones egg song (she no longer lays). When I fill her feeder or waterer I talk to her and tap on it so she can hear where it is (and where I am), I try not to startle her or 'sneak' up on her. She does better with the feeder on a solid surface (I use a concrete block) rather than hanging it, where it can move and swing, which makes it hard for her to hit it. I have a large plastic airline dog crate with shavings in it that she sleeps in, as she cannot navigate roosts. I also monitor her weight, to make sure she's getting enough. If yours is really blind, then with some help, she can still do well. You may have to help her find food and water initially, until she learns where it is. And then make sure it's always in the same place.

Thank you. I think she sees something,at e light. But even when I try to feed her by hand she pecks the opposite way from the food. She pecks every which way. Her coordination is way off. She can't find her way into the coop and if I put her in she doesn't come out with the others. I don't want her to suffer. She is my oldest baby and is so gentle and loving. How do you cull them?

 

[SnackMeat]

These both outline the carbon dioxide method:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-chick-vinegar-and-baking-soda-method.147192/


http://www.alysion.org/euthanasia/


There was a similar one with a spray cleaner maybe a car related cleaner like brake cleaner or similar but I can't find it.


It would be fastest to break her neck or cut her head off but I also understand this is traumatic for you, so those are probably no goesbso I think either carbon dioxide or another spray chamber method would be easiest and still humane.

 

[coach723]

The fastest and most humane method is cervical dislocation. Other ways may be "better" for the human, but not for the bird. It needs to be as instant and painless and panic-less as possible. How I do it is outlined here:
https://www.muranochickenfarm.com/2017/06/the-easiest-way-to-cull-chicken.html
If the bird is having balance and coordination issues I would supplement with a b complex tablet or capsule once a day (any brand, human ones from any pharmacy) to see if it helps. If she hasn't been able to eat or find food, she may very well be deficient, and that can cause those kinds of symptoms. Just put it in her beak and push it back, she will swallow it. I would do that first before considering culling. For food, try putting it in a large, shallow dish in front of her, so that aim is not so critical and it's easier for her to hit it. I often use large puppy pans that I get here:
https://jefferspet.com/products/8-ss-puppy-dish-79101?_pos=1&_psq=puppy+pans&_ss=e&_v=1.0

 

[Eggcessive]

I would give her a chance to learn to find the food. Blind chickens do see light and dark and shadows. One eye is for near sight, while the other eye is for far sight. I feed sick birds out of a small bowl with wet chicken feed and some dry crumbles, cooked egg, some canned cat food or tuna, and give some vitamins twice a day.

 

[dianefbarfield]

These both outline the carbon dioxide method:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-chick-vinegar-and-baking-soda-method.147192/


http://www.alysion.org/euthanasia/


There was a similar one with a spray cleaner maybe a car related cleaner like brake cleaner or similar but I can't find it.


It would be fastest to break her neck or cut her head off but I also understand this is traumatic for you, so those are probably no goesbso I think either carbon dioxide or another spray chamber method would be easiest and still humane.

I don't care about trauma to me. I just don't want her to suffer. She doesn't deserve it. I can't believe how many cruel ways there are for ending a chickens life. I've been told to suffocate, drown, bang their head on a tree, shoot them. I mean, chickens can recognize 200 different faces. They are smart, curious, funny and love affection. Not something to just be thrown away. I am going to try to make her comfortable as you did and if she can't survive I will do cervical dislocation.

 

[dianefbarfield]

The fastest and most humane method is cervical dislocation. Other ways may be "better" for the human, but not for the bird. It needs to be as instant and painless and panic-less as possible. How I do it is outlined here:
https://www.muranochickenfarm.com/2017/06/the-easiest-way-to-cull-chicken.html
If the bird is having balance and coordination issues I would supplement with a b complex tablet or capsule once a day (any brand, human ones from any pharmacy) to see if it helps. If she hasn't been able to eat or find food, she may very well be deficient, and that can cause those kinds of symptoms. Just put it in her beak and push it back, she will swallow it. I would do that first before considering culling. For food, try putting it in a large, shallow dish in front of her, so that aim is not so critical and it's easier for her to hit it. I often use large puppy pans that I get here:
https://jefferspet.com/products/8-ss-puppy-dish-79101?_pos=1&_psq=puppy+pans&_ss=e&_v=1.0

Thank you. I totally agree that cervical dislocation is best for the animal. I will also try the b vitamins. I can't believe she is still walking around and acting normal when I can't get her to eat.

 

[dianefbarfield]

Thank you. I totally agree that cervical dislocation is best for the animal. I will also try the b vitamins. I can't believe she is still walking around and acting normal when I can't get her to eat.

Here is my problem. On July 12 I leave for the beach for a week. The chickens are in a secure run with a coop, food and water. A friend checks on them and collects eggs. I won't be here to take care of her. So I have to solve this before next Saturday.

 

[coach723]

Sometimes supplementing the B's brings quick improvement, it's very hard to predict. Give it a try, see how it goes.