Chick ate earring

[feather13]

One of our five week old Amercaunas ate my stud earring today. She pulled it out really quickly before I had time to stop her and she ate it. We have 12 chicks and they mob us when we're in the coop, hanging out on our shoulders, backs, and on our heads. It's generally cute, but I'm worried that the chick is going to get sick. I know this is a really weird question, but has this ever happened to anyone here? Thanks for any advice on what to do!

 

[Sahraschweiss]

Happened to me a few others. It should pass, just keep an on the chick.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/posts/22964846

https://www.backyardchickens.com/posts/22913812

https://www.backyardchickens.com/posts/22642379

https://www.backyardchickens.com/posts/22943789

 

[feather13]

@Sahraschweiss : Thank you so much!!!! I didn't know this was so common or I would have searched the forum more carefully LOL. One of them pecked my daughter pretty hard in the eye the other day, so I think we need to start going into the coop in PPE

 

[Sahraschweiss]

No worries! Had it happen to me this month and have stopped wearing earrings. My girls like my eyes too, but I wear glasses which has saved me from a peck or two.

I released after I posted that it might have sounded snippy, but that wasn't my intention. You asked have others... And was like yup, here, here, and here...

 

[HiEverybirdy]

My greatest fear! I have a pair I haven't worn since my Brahmas were chicks because one loves sparkly stuff so much, and I know I'll forget and let her up on my shoulder. Good luck--seems like chickens do get into a lot of weird stuff but can generally handle it. Just keep an eye on the little sweet pea.

 

[Folly's place]

You need to establish boundaries! This behavior is rude, disrespectful, and dangerous, as you've already seen. No bird should invade your personal space, much less jump on you uninvited. Regroup, and change your behavior, so they change theirs.
I'm glad all of you still have eyeballs, and hope this bird gets through this episode safely.
Mary

 

[HiEverybirdy]

You need to establish boundaries! This behavior is rude, disrespectful, and dangerous, as you've already seen. No bird should invade your personal space, much less jump on you uninvited. Regroup, and change your behavior, so they change theirs.
I'm glad all of you still have eyeballs, and hope this bird gets through this episode safely.
Mary

I'm going right out to show this post to Donna and see if we can get some decorum around here! I miss wearing shiny things.

However, she's always invited into my personal space. Just how we roll.

 

[feather13]

No worries! Had it happen to me this month and have stopped wearing earrings. My girls like my eyes too, but I wear glasses which has saved me from a peck or two.

I released after I posted that it might have sounded snippy, but that wasn't my intention. You asked have others... And was like yup, here, here, and here...

Thank you for your post! You didn't sound snippy at all. Usually I do search through the forums before posting, but just figured this was too weird to have happened to anyone. I should have known better... chickens. The posts you copied made me feel reassured.

 

[Manhen]

You need to establish boundaries! This behavior is rude, disrespectful, and dangerous, as you've already seen. No bird should invade your personal space, much less jump on you uninvited. Regroup, and change your behavior, so they change theirs.
I'm glad all of you still have eyeballs, and hope this bird gets through this episode safely.
Mary

I know mine also like freckles moles buttons zippers Etc

 

[3KillerBs]

One of them pecked my daughter pretty hard in the eye the other day, so I think we need to start going into the coop in PPE

IMO, it's wise to keep chickens off your shoulders.

For birds the dominant bird in the flock perches the highest so if the chicken is on your shoulder and it's eyes are above your eye level it believes that it's dominant bird -- at which point you can expect it to attempt to peck and discipline you so that you'll submit.

My experience in this is with parrots, but dominance behavior in chickens seems pretty similar.