Do chickens ever peck at eyes?

[the3ofus+oursixchicks]

you better believe they will peck youe eye!! i am sitting here right now with sunglasses on at 10 oclock at night because my little sweet buff orpington pecked mine wednesday. it has been horrible. i reckon it scratched my eye. i have had to wear patch. it is much better though. the little darlin didnt mean to hurt me she just flew up on my shoulder and when i turned to look at her and get her down she pecked. i still love her

i am planning to be more careful!!

 

[epeloquin]

They sure do peck eyes!!! Earlier today my nephew asked if he could bring his two sons over to see my girls. The girls are 4 1/2 weeks old and on their 2nd day out of the brooder permanently. Anyway, they were happily free ranging around the garage when they showed up (by the way, my nephew's sons don't listen worth a lick)

.

So, they show up and one of them (a 15 year old who acts like he's 7...no kidding) was laying with his face in the dirt...seriously. I warned him that he should not do that (partly because of the poo). He kept doing it.

In fact he moved closer to them so, one of my RIR came over onto his shoulder, peeked around and BAM!!!...pecked him right in the corner of his eye.

...sorry...

.... Of course he is trying his hardest to cry

but couldn't make the tears. I mustered enough social grace to ask if he was okay

(it was obvious she didn't get him square on). He was. Finally they left

Then I called my wife...I couldn't wait to tell her what had happened!

I would never want anyone to get hurt...of course. But sometimes your chicks just do things that make you

.
She must have know that kid was just...just...

In all seriousness, I really agree that they are reacting to the shine in your eye and the blinking of your eye. It must just be irresistible movement for some chickens. I wonder if certain breeds have a greater tendency to peck eyes. My father-in-law got it from a full grown RIR. But our Barred Rocks have never come close...not that I am saying they won't. But I have two who really like to be held and they do look into our face but have never come close to pecking. Plus my wife and I wear glasses. Maybe that mitigates the risk for us some.

 

[BrattishTaz]

I am legally blind in one eye because a chick nailed me when I was a kid.

 

[epeloquin]

Ooohh...now that is NOT funny. All kidding aside...I'm sorry that happened to you, Brat. A sobering reminder to be careful!!!

 

[BrattishTaz]

Quote:
Thank you.

It happened when I was really little so I don't really notice it at all unless I cover my good eye. I just want people to realize those cute little babies can cause serious damage.

 

[Totes Quackers]

One of my kids got a nasty peck in the eye from one of our girls! Luckily no lasting damage. They also LOVE when my toenails are painted and shiny jewellery...

 

[Saltysteele]

turkeys are especially attracted to shiny things and eyes, but i have a couple chicks that catch a glint off a diamond in my wedding band, and you'd think it was a crackhead after crack.

i wouldn't trust them that close to my face

 

[momdeb]

I'm sorry to hear about everyone's eyes that have been injured...

I wish that I had the awareness to realize that this could happen and very quickly. I'm going to spread the word/awareness. Hopefully, more eye injuries from chickens can be prevented by speaking and writing about it.

I have been to the vet many times with one of my chickens that had cancer (she passed). My vet knew that I had young children (they were with me during the visits) but not once did they 'inform' me to keep watch for possible eye pecking...
I just think that in the books about raising chickens -- this ought to be mentioned because to some of us , it's not 'common sense.' Accidents do happen but a lot of them could be prevented. I am very distraught as this could have happened to my child - but thankfully, his eye was not pecked or injured.

Today, my mom was outside with my children and one of our chickens flew up at my 2 and a half year old son and pecked at his face, upper cheek area near one of his eyes. : ( I was just inside the house, knowing that my mother was with my children, just outside the door. Well, he is fine now - except the chicken did break his skin. I am oh so thankful that the chicken did not peck his eye. I am so sorry that this happened to some of you!
This Rhode Island Red has always seemed to be more aggressive than our other chickens. My daughter said that my son was bending over and talking to her when she just flew up at him.
I called the vet who grew up with chickens and asked him what to do. Since I have a very young child, my vet said that they will help me find a new home for our chicken(with no children and aware adults).
Thank you for posting your experiences as it helped me see that this kind of thing can happen with chickens.
I wonder if this is mentioned in any books about Raising Chickens. Thank you, again.

 

[Cebarmlds]

Why would this need to be in a book to warn people, it's a common sense thing, stuff happens! You just know things can happen, come on people! We ALL know chickens peck at EVERYTHING! I had a peck in the eye and I wear glasses but she jumped onto my shoulder when I was bent over and I turned to look at her. I am not blaming the lack of information in a book or anyone, it just happened! No blame anywhere, Jeez!!!

 

[Nicole01]

Yes! Be very careful, as they could cause serious damage. The will take out earrings too and eat them.