Chickens have sharp beaks and bit my 4 year old son

[PartyOnARoost]

wow.... that is a bit germaphobic there. I don't think her little boy is going to die from a little chicken bite. If he had a suppressed immune system, they might have to worry...otherwise, unless he is licking a live chicken all over and that chicken has been kept in dirty conditions, it's pretty unlikely that he's going to be sick. 

Actually, it is pretty likely... When a live animal that has been living outside with germs and bugs that go on to them, and then one of the animals body parts touches your mouth, where you drink, and eat with, you know how many germs can access him??? Not talking about this case but I'm just stating in general... My friends little brother petted my pet chickens comb ounce and stuck his finger in his mouth right after and ended up being sick for two weeks that night...I'm just saying there's a lot of germs that are on that chickens mouth that can cause problems it's not something to laugh about... But it's okay when the mom in this case cleansed it properly so there is nothing to worry about in this case

 

[Nicole01]

wow this was a while ago, but now the same hen is still biting! She is super friendly and lets me hold her anytime. But she chases me sometimes and will sneak up behind me and bite hard enough to break the skin! I think she is expecting us to feed her meal worms, but if I didn't know better I would think she was trying to hurt me

I had a RIR pullet full blown attack me 3 times breaking skin and bleeding during her "teen" stage! She was trying to dominate over me to be top hen. It didn't work.

What I did was picked her up and carried her around for days. I'd set her on my lap and pet her gently. I was always calm and gentle, but I carried her a lot!!!

After she started to lay, she became the sweetest thing ever!

However, I still do not trust her 100% around the kids. They are to leave her alone unless I'm with them.

 

[RonC]

Chickens are going to peck, it's their nature. When I squat in their run I make sure my back is against the side so they can't sneak up on me. They do calm down alot when they start laying. Just don't let them near enough to your or your loved ones faces to peck and keep an eye on your young ones not old enough to understand why.

 

[leadwolf1]

I highly doubt that his illness had anything to do with petting your chicken's comb....Sorry, illnesses don't happen that quickly.

Actually, it is pretty likely... When a live animal that has been living outside with germs and bugs that go on to them, and then one of the animals body parts touches your mouth, where you drink, and eat with, you know how many germs can access him??? Not talking about this case but I'm just stating in general... My friends little brother petted my pet chickens comb ounce and stuck his finger in his mouth right after and ended up being sick for two weeks that night...I'm just saying there's a lot of germs that are on that chickens mouth that can cause problems it's not something to laugh about... But it's okay when the mom in this case cleansed it properly so there is nothing to worry about in this case

 

[just me]

wow.... that is a bit germaphobic there. I don't think her little boy is going to die from a little chicken bite. If he had a suppressed immune system, they might have to worry...otherwise, unless he is licking a live chicken all over and that chicken has been kept in dirty conditions, it's pretty unlikely that he's going to be sick.

Total newbie here (to this site, not to chickens). Growing up on the farm, as soon as I got old enough to reach the feed in the 55 gallon drum, standing on a cinderblock (probably 4 or 5 years old), it was my job to feed, water the chickens and get up the eggs. I did this until I "graduated" to taking care of the pigs (6 or 7 years later). Anyway, in the summertime, I'd go in the coop, barefooted with shorts and teeshirt on. Walked in all the poop, got pecked by countless broodies while gathering the eggs. Never even thought about washing my hands afterwards, went on about my daily business. Heck, sometimes we didn't wash our hands before we ate because at "drink time" mama would bring snacks and drinks to the field and we would find what little shade we could to sit under and have our little snack. NEVER got sick from messing with the chickens (or pigs either, for that matter). Of course, that could have been becuase i had "built my immunity up" (as grandma used to say) from eating a few germs every day. Grandma used to say a child couldn't get grown without eating a little dirt and falling off the bed at least once!! LOL