In my journal I have written about my broody hen. She hatched out 3 chicks this last weekend. In my hurry to get her out of the rather constrictive brooder I put her and the babies into the main coop run last night, with an internal fence to, theoretically, keep the others out. Didn't work, and one of the other hens got in, and a fight ensued. When I went out this morning Hen#2 was still in there, and very eager to get back with her sisters. Mama Hen had several head wounds, and, observing her through the day, I am now almost completely convince that she is now totally blind. This next is quoted from my journal:
"After observing her for awhile I am reasonably sure that she is totally blind. You're right, DD, these things happen; but this one needn't have, if I hadn't been in such a hurry. Anyway, that is water under the bridge now. My question at the moment is, for anyone who has had a totally blind chicken, what sort of quality of life can she expect? I know a dog or cat depends more on scent that sight, but I really don't know about chickens. Is this the point where I fix up the brooder and heat lamp, put the chicks in there, and put her out of her misery? I've done it before, with a hen with a prolapse, so I know I can. I just wonder if it is necessary at this point. To set the discussion off on the right foot - my hens are basically egg layers; and for their work keeping my kitchen supplied they have a place here for as long as they are not in discomfort. They are not "pets", in that I don't carry them around, and they don't sit on my lap, but they are valued members of the community that I call my home. I can put them out of their misery, but I have no intention of taking the pragmatic view of "Oh, she isn't as productive anymore, so we can get rid of her". I know that there are some here who wouldn't have a problem with that view; I do, so please don't respond if you feel differently. I want to know if she has any hope of a decent chicken life if she is blind. Or if it is worthwhile letting her continue for the next 8 weeks or so to raise the chicks. Or if it is more humane to let her go now, and raise the chicks in the brooder. Another consideration is that her sisters spend part of most day free ranging on the property, which, I imagine, is now out of the question for her."
"After observing her for awhile I am reasonably sure that she is totally blind. You're right, DD, these things happen; but this one needn't have, if I hadn't been in such a hurry. Anyway, that is water under the bridge now. My question at the moment is, for anyone who has had a totally blind chicken, what sort of quality of life can she expect? I know a dog or cat depends more on scent that sight, but I really don't know about chickens. Is this the point where I fix up the brooder and heat lamp, put the chicks in there, and put her out of her misery? I've done it before, with a hen with a prolapse, so I know I can. I just wonder if it is necessary at this point. To set the discussion off on the right foot - my hens are basically egg layers; and for their work keeping my kitchen supplied they have a place here for as long as they are not in discomfort. They are not "pets", in that I don't carry them around, and they don't sit on my lap, but they are valued members of the community that I call my home. I can put them out of their misery, but I have no intention of taking the pragmatic view of "Oh, she isn't as productive anymore, so we can get rid of her". I know that there are some here who wouldn't have a problem with that view; I do, so please don't respond if you feel differently. I want to know if she has any hope of a decent chicken life if she is blind. Or if it is worthwhile letting her continue for the next 8 weeks or so to raise the chicks. Or if it is more humane to let her go now, and raise the chicks in the brooder. Another consideration is that her sisters spend part of most day free ranging on the property, which, I imagine, is now out of the question for her."
