Confession

[Happy Chooks]

If you put your face at their level, they will naturally want to peck at something shiny, whether it be an eyeball, a diamond earring, rings on your fingers, red toenail polish, etc. Chickens are very curious animals, and since they don't have hands, they peck at things they want to investigate. They are not trying to hurt you.

I do have 1 chicken that will fly up onto me. (an Easter Egger) She recognizes the "treat cup" and wants to be first to the treats. She will fly up onto my arm like a little raptor to get the treats. One time, I didn't want her on my arm (it was mucky from raining) and so I tucked my arm in tight to my body to keep her from flying up onto me. She instead decided that my head would be a good landing spot.

My son thought it was hilarious, he was laughing so hard. But out of 30 chickens, she is the only one that does this.

When they are young, they will fly/jump a lot because they are practicing using their wings. When they are adults, most will not fly too much as they get heavy and it's harder for them to get airborne. They will still fly/jump up to the roosts, to escape a predator, etc. but otherwise they'll just come running to you for treats and gather around your feet.

And no, I don't wear safety glasses.

Hope this helps ease your fears.

 

[DinosRBirds]

one of my chicks pecked my eye once, and its fine. plus my dog scratched my eye . its fine my horse bit my finger, its fine. my dog ripped open my arm a couple inches wide as a puppy. its fine. my point is, not alot of things are lifechanging, unless youre diving with sharks and killer whales, or holding a kite with a key on it. even then, you could still be fine when you heal. you have more of a chance of being hit by a car than dying from a chicken peck, or scratch.

 

[onthespot]

If you get your hands a little big damp before picking up downy chicks, they are a lot easier to keep a hold of.
Oh, and....

 

[SoORchick73]

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LOL! Good point

 

[hokankai]

My hens with jump up for treats, but they only jump 2 ft max.

 

[wingsofglory]

Your freckles and moles are in greater danger.

 

[SoORchick73]

lol no poking fun

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No bypassing the language filter.

 

[fargosmom]

My favorite hen pecks at me, hard, whenever she wants attention. So I make sure I wear long pants, or sweats, and long sleeves when I go in with her. Then she can peck all she likes, and I sit down and put her in my lap (at which point she goes into her happiness coma). Her head gets scritched, her tummy gets rubbed, and eventually I put her down. . . . . And she comes and pecks my legs again for more attention. But I've never held her at eye level

because I know that's asking for trouble.

 

[wingsofglory]

Well, this is embarrassing, but - I had a beauty mark on my face near my mouth. I was holding my full grown hen on my lap, and she spied it. As it was happening lightening fast, I was thinking just a peck. But NO, she was so accurate, she got ahold of it, and dug in her feet and leaned back and pulled for all she was worth!!! It wasn't that big but she thought it was a worthy bug. I had it removed later by medical practitioner because this hen had a very long memory and tried several more times.

 

[SoORchick73]

eeks, and i thought you were just making fun of me ....yikes!

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