Hi,
I bought in 3 silver laced Wyandotte bantams this week which are currently in quarantine. The largest of the 3 started looking hunched the day after and I assumed that the stress of the journey had brought whatever bugs she was carrying to the surface. I started dosing her with antibiotic but a day later I noteced that when she pecked for food in a dish with the others she stopped about an inch or two short of her target. I decided to bring her indoors as she was getting weaker and the missjudged pecking suggested something to do with her eyesight.
Once inside and dosed with liquids and critical care formula she started to perk up so I decided to tempt her with a little dish of chick crumb, mixed corn and tuna. She was keen to eat so I have been pariently holding the dish infront of her and judging when she is about to peck so that I could move the food closer at the same time.
If I move the dish too close she pulls her head back so I have found an optimum position where she can make contact and get a gulp full of tuna. I hoped that if I could encourage her to reach a bit further than she think she needs to with the reward of food she may be able to adjust to her visual impairment.
In between beakfulls of tuna and corn she stops and closes her eyes and I have noticed that her upper beak is a little hooked like a bird of prey and the bottom one may be similar as they seem a little miss aligned. I no longer think she needs antibiotic but given her it just in case. I have kept her topped up with critical care and water (almost to the point of over hydrating her) Yet she has just got up and had lots to drink from her water dish. She has no problem drinking and can clearly see what she is doing.
If I cant get her to make contact with her food she will die and I'm wondering if filing her beak into shape is the answer.
I have only ever had one other Wyandotte bantam which also had a sight / pecking problem you will find her story here
http://www.thechickenwhisperer.co.uk/2014/06/dottys-decline.htmlAny ideas if this is a regular issue with Wyandottes?