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Bulge eyes can appear in any type of dove. It is not yet proven if this is a nutrient deficiency, genetic or of medical origin. The bulge eye's corneas are easily subject to abrasive damage and infections and often result in permanent scarring. Their eyesight is usually limited to blurry shadows, light and motion and very near objects. The more scarring and thicker the cornea, the worse their vision. Their eyes are often runny and encrusted. The feathers behind their necks become darker from frequently rubbing their eyes. Because of their poor eyesight and tendency toward eye injury, bulge eyes should be somewhat isolated from other aggressive birds. They don't manage well in a free flight aviary where they have to compete for food and are under constant attack. Other bulge eyes, silkies and albino doves tend to have the mildest personalities which would be better companions for the bulge eye. A gentle mannered mate is the key companion. Frequent
cleaning of the eye and surrounding feathers is helpful. One drop of a
natural eye tear replacement lubricant weekly is extremely helpful in
reducing injury. My research has indicated that the Bulge eye is caused by a
nutrient deficiency as is evidenced by clusters of strictly handfed
babies who developed into bulge eyes after the first 2 weeks of
age, were parented by both normal ringnecks as well as bulge eyed
parents. I had 5 bulge eye babies born the same week from 4 different
sets of parents, all different ringneck breeds. Yet when the same
parents fed subsequent babies, the eyes were all normal. Certain brands
of baby bird formula seem to create this effect more than others. The
clusters appeared when an off brand of baby bird food was substituted
when the preferred brand was out of stock. The nutrient deficiency seems
to be from lack of certain foods even when fed by parents, although the
incidence is much lower when fed by parenting doves. When proper
nutrition is provided, no incidents of bulge eye babies have been born
to any of my doves. Other
dove experts believe the bulge eye manifestations to be of medical
origin, perhaps a hyperthyroid problem or even a virus but have no data
to substantiate that at this point. And
still other dove experts believe that the bulge eye is a genetic trait
but no data is available to support that theory at this time either. |
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