As if it weren’t hard enough to snap a good picture of a chicken, the task is made more difficult by bonus body parts. Many an otherwise fabulous chicken photo has been foiled by the appearance of a hazy-looking eye. The hazy-looking eye this photo is caused by a chicken’s nictitating membrane, which is its third eyelid.

The hazy-looking eye this photo is caused by a chicken’s nictitating membrane, which is its third eyelid. This is (St)Eve. He is the king of photo out-takes due to blinking.This is (St)Eve. He is the king of photo out-takes due to blinking.

The nictitating membrane is located next to the eyeball, underneath its other two eyelids and it operates independently from them.  When we think of eyelids, we typically think of two independent halves, closing to meet in the middle of they eye. However, the nictitating membrane has no counterpart, it operates by sliding from the front to the back of the eye, much like a window on a car door.

The nictitating membrane has no counterpart, it operates by sliding from the front to the back of the eye, much like a window on a car door.
 the nictitating membrane has no counterpart, it operates by sliding from the front to the back of the eye, much like a window on a car door.
Nictitating membrane completely closed and Halloween spooky.
Nictitating membrane completely closed and Halloween-spooky

The nictitating membrane serves several purposes: to moisten, clean and protect the eye. Dust bathing is prime-time for nictitating membrane viewing if you are so inclined, but pay very close attention, because if you blink, you’ll miss it.

Dust bathing is prime-time for nictitating membrane viewing if you are so inclined, but pay very close attention, because if you blink, you'll miss it.
Dust bathing is prime-time for nictitating membrane viewing if you are so inclined, but pay very close attention, because if you blink, you'll miss it.

In addition to its horizontal operation, and the fact that it has its own lubricating duct, the another unique aspect of the nictitating membrane is that it is transparent, allowing the chicken to see through it when it is closed. If you watch a chicken closely as it scratches and pecks around on the ground, you will notice that its nictitating membrane is often closed, which keeps the eyeball protected from injuries and foreign bodies.

The nictitating membrane is is transparent, allowing the chicken to see through it when it is closed
Kathy Shea Mormino, The Chicken Chick
 

Kathy Shea Mormino

Affectionately known internationally as The Chicken Chick®, Kathy Shea Mormino shares a fun-loving, informative style to raising backyard chickens. …Read on

shop my SPONSORS

As if it weren’t hard enough to snap a good picture of a chicken, the task is made more difficult by bonus body parts. Many an otherwise fabulous chicken photo has been foiled by the appearance of a hazy-looking eye. The hazy-looking eye this photo is caused by a chicken’s nictitating membrane, which is its third eyelid.

The hazy-looking eye this photo is caused by a chicken’s nictitating membrane, which is its third eyelid. This is (St)Eve. He is the king of photo out-takes due to blinking.This is (St)Eve. He is the king of photo out-takes due to blinking.

The nictitating membrane is located next to the eyeball, underneath its other two eyelids and it operates independently from them.  When we think of eyelids, we typically think of two independent halves, closing to meet in the middle of they eye. However, the nictitating membrane has no counterpart, it operates by sliding from the front to the back of the eye, much like a window on a car door.

The nictitating membrane has no counterpart, it operates by sliding from the front to the back of the eye, much like a window on a car door.
 the nictitating membrane has no counterpart, it operates by sliding from the front to the back of the eye, much like a window on a car door.
Nictitating membrane completely closed and Halloween spooky.
Nictitating membrane completely closed and Halloween-spooky

The nictitating membrane serves several purposes: to moisten, clean and protect the eye. Dust bathing is prime-time for nictitating membrane viewing if you are so inclined, but pay very close attention, because if you blink, you’ll miss it.

Dust bathing is prime-time for nictitating membrane viewing if you are so inclined, but pay very close attention, because if you blink, you'll miss it.
Dust bathing is prime-time for nictitating membrane viewing if you are so inclined, but pay very close attention, because if you blink, you'll miss it.

In addition to its horizontal operation, and the fact that it has its own lubricating duct, the another unique aspect of the nictitating membrane is that it is transparent, allowing the chicken to see through it when it is closed. If you watch a chicken closely as it scratches and pecks around on the ground, you will notice that its nictitating membrane is often closed, which keeps the eyeball protected from injuries and foreign bodies.

The nictitating membrane is is transparent, allowing the chicken to see through it when it is closed
Kathy Shea Mormino, The Chicken Chick
 
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
17 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Ora
Ora
4 years ago

My tiny rooster’s eye was pecked by another hen. It has become swollen and rooster having issues seeing. Should we take him to a vet?