My weeding hen (who follows me around the garden) is a 2 year old Welsummer. Last season she was avidly nabbing the tiniest of worms as I cleaned the beds. This season, she is having trouble seeing even the fattest worms, let alone the bitty ones. I've tried dangling them directly in front of her, and she often misses and pecks my finger instead. Same with placing them on the ground in plain sight - she will often step on a wriggling worm apparently not seeing it. I haven't figured out if this is one sided or not. I've looked at both eyes and don't see anything weird. I reluctantly did clip her wings so she will now stay inside the chicken yard, hoping that will keep her safer. Anyone heard of this? She doesn't run into anything or appear disoriented, and runs to the fence with the other hens at treat time. Also has no problem keeping her upper spot in the pecking order... ??

I have had a number of hens with eye problems, but I only remember one whose eyes looked normal but was apparently blind. She was very low in the pecking order. Could she have simply lost her taste for worms?

Ha ha - I suppose that might be the case, although in my observation chickens pretty much chomp down on anything available. She does seem to spot the fat green grub worms easier than the earthworm, maybe she is color blind?? I did feel badly, though. Last time I was weeding close to the chicken yard, she was running madly back and forth at the fence line, clearly (in my opinion) wanting to come play with me.

Going to have to fit her with glasses!

Contacts!

I'm thinking laser surgery...

But, of course!

Seeing-eye dog, er, I mean chicken?

I had a leghorn rooster that went completely blind once. I'd have to show him where the food and water was, and of course rescue him when he wondered off too far and couldn't find his way back to the coup. Eventually, a hawk got him.