Australorps breed Thread

[rfreedlund]

I turned my head while he was on my shoulder and he PECKED MY EYE!

I don't think it's necessarily a rooster thing. Of my flock of 48, I only have one who will let me pick her up. She likes to roost on my arm. She is a young Barred Rock. A couple of weeks ago, she hopped up onto my shoulder and was doing just fine. I turned my head toward her and she suddenly poked me in the eye. It hurt! Luckily everything was fine in the morning and I didn't need any medical attention. I won't let any bird on my shoulder again.

I am sure that it was an automatic reaction for her not of defense but she probably saw something in my eye (perhaps a gleam or reflection) that she thought was food or something. It wasn't malice. It was just a normal chicken reaction. Again. I won't let any one of them (pullet or cockerel) up on my shoulder again.

 

[chickisoup]

Thanks Ron!!! Your evaluation is really appreciated!!!

Can't wait to see how they develop. You;re right about the faces. Almost no red yet. (the one I gave my neighbor has a beautiful red comb and wattles, along with HIS nice crow

) Actually they already look better than the pullets (now belonging to my neighbor) that came from the breeder last year.

 

[ronott1]

Thanks Ron!!! Your evaluation is really appreciated!!!

Can't wait to see how they develop. You;re right about the faces. Almost no red yet. (the one I gave my neighbor has a beautiful red comb and wattles, along with HIS nice crow

) Actually they already look better than the pullets (now belonging to my neighbor) that came from the breeder last year.

The Breeder likely got them from Sand Hill or somewhere so not up to Standard Quality.

 

[alebuela]

I don't think it's necessarily a rooster thing. Of my flock of 48, I only have one who will let me pick her up. She likes to roost on my arm. She is a young Barred Rock. A couple of weeks ago, she hopped up onto my shoulder and was doing just fine. I turned my head toward her and she suddenly poked me in the eye. It hurt! Luckily everything was fine in the morning and I didn't need any medical attention. I won't let any bird on my shoulder again.


To rfreedlund. I am sure you are right: there was no malice involved. He was clearly fascinated with something in or about my eyes - it may have been the extra play of light since my cataract surgery. I also juxtaposed two unrelated things: first the advice to never let a cockerel or rooster be so "equal" with me because it could lead to undesirable and even aggressive behaviors down the road. The second was my concern for my grandchildren and any bird (male or female) that could get so high and pose such a threat to their eyes. So my response, when what I had thought was a pullet began to crow, was a whole lot quicker to re-home than it might have been without the eye incidents. In any case, thank you for responding! It makes me wonder how many other birds have done that pecking thing, and whether anyone previously has ever issued a warning against having birds on the shoulder!

I am sure that it was an automatic reaction for her not of defense but she probably saw something in my eye (perhaps a gleam or reflection) that she thought was food or something. It wasn't malice. It was just a normal chicken reaction. Again. I won't let any one of them (pullet or cockerel) up on my shoulder again. 

To rfreedlund

 

[alebuela]

It really depends on the Cockerel\Rooster's temperament. 

Never trust a Rooster with little kids though. You never know what will set one off.

So much to learn! BYC and people like you are a wonderful gift for people like me. Thank you!

 

[ronott1]

So much to learn! BYC and people like you are a wonderful gift for people like me. Thank you!

BYC is a great place to learn!

I am happy to help.

 

[Highcotton]

So much to learn! BYC and people like you are a wonderful gift for people like me. Thank you!

Welcome to BYC. This a great place to learn about chickens.

 

[Gramma Chick]

Quote: I have had one of my young chickens peck at my eye and or ear I think it is a curiosity thing when they are on your shoulder .
I just closed my eye & gave it a head butt ...to let it know it was not acceptable

 

[bonnylass79]

Can't say that I've ever wanted a chicken on my shoulder...

I do want to add that I believe a good rooster can be ok unsupervised with kids. I grew up with aggressive chickens (hens and roos) and I won't tolerate the behavior from my birds. I won't breed an aggressive rooster, I don't care how good he looks. As a result, I have very few offspring that show aggression. Any aggression, and they're next on the list to go in the freezer. My 3 year old son regularly goes into the chicken yard (often without my knowledge) and chases the birds. I currently have 20-30 males. None of them so much as challenge him. Not to say that he is allowed to torment the animals and he has had his butt handed to him by other roosters at other farms, but I take confidence in knowing that he can walk through our barnyard without concern for his safety.

 

[ronott1]

Can't say that I've ever wanted a chicken on my shoulder...

I do want to add that I believe a good rooster can be ok unsupervised with kids. I grew up with aggressive chickens (hens and roos) and I won't tolerate the behavior from my birds. I won't breed an aggressive rooster, I don't care how good he looks. As a result, I have very few offspring that show aggression. Any aggression, and they're next on the list to go in the freezer. My 3 year old son regularly goes into the chicken yard (often without my knowledge) and chases the birds. I currently have 20-30 males. None of them so much as challenge him. Not to say that he is allowed to torment the animals and he has had his butt handed to him by other roosters at other farms, but I take confidence in knowing that he can walk through our barnyard without concern for his safety.

It is great that you have such nice roosters.

I had a pullet jump up on my shoulder once. I do not encourage that kind if thing either. With my luck, they would poop on me.