Sudden blindness

[tonytoast]

Yesterday morning I discovered my Plummie hen (who had been on a nest) disorientated and flying into things....when I grabbed her, which wasn't as easy as say a sick bird, I noticed one eye sealed shut and the other partly closed. I placed her into a hospital cage with seed and water with electrolytes. A little later I decided to wash her eyes with warm water and both opened up completely. Unfortunately, I noted one of the eyes was cloudy....now, I am sure this could be several things including cateracts, psittacosis or even just trauma.

She seems to be ok today but I am pretty sure she is blind in one eye....would be interested to hear your thoughts on possible outcomes for this little one. I have a three day window before I am on holidays so the hospital cage is a short term solution and as much as I wish I could afford to send every sick bird off to the vet, reality is that it cannot happen.

Note that she comes from a large aviary with about 40 birds and the aviary is exposed to the environmental issues and wild birds....

[SamDavis]

I've had a few finches over the years who have lost sight in one eye. Most have survived just fine and many have continued breeding as if nothing was wrong. I've currently got a really well coloured red siskin cock with one eye who has no major problems getting about. In fact most people seldom notice because he always has the missing eye facing away.

Obviously if both eyes are affected it's a different matter.