Wow. Nine pages of people being pecked in the eye, and yet I don't recall that being mentioned in all the chicken care threads and books I have read since getting chickens. Most likely, it was mentioned briefly as an aside and just didn't grab my attention.
What I do read a lot about is how everybody cuddles and loves on their chickens and turkeys. I think the eye pecking warning needs to be made more often. I am used to my chickens pecking gently at everything on me, such as my toes, shoes, rings. I guess I was aware that they check things out, but I didn't think that eyeballs would attract such aggressive interest. (By now you have probably guessed that I was pecked in the eye. Yes, it was my curious, and extremely friendly 2 month old turkey poult, who could still fit on my shoulder. No more of that!)
So I thought I would bump this as a public service announcement, lol. When we encourage newcomers to tame their chicks, we should also remind them to watch their eyes. Someone in an earlier page mentioned keeping safety glasses in their coop. I think that is a good idea, and that safety glasses around chickens should always be advised. Most people will probably decide to skip the glasses, but the more it is mentioned, then maybe the fewer people who will be surprised by a peck in the eye.
Oh, and my husband was reading over my shoulder, and he thought it was ironic that "The Chicken Chick" was posting about eye safety, and her avatar shows her holding a chicken at eye level, inches from her face!!
Anyway, Happy Easter everyone! Stay safe!
What I do read a lot about is how everybody cuddles and loves on their chickens and turkeys. I think the eye pecking warning needs to be made more often. I am used to my chickens pecking gently at everything on me, such as my toes, shoes, rings. I guess I was aware that they check things out, but I didn't think that eyeballs would attract such aggressive interest. (By now you have probably guessed that I was pecked in the eye. Yes, it was my curious, and extremely friendly 2 month old turkey poult, who could still fit on my shoulder. No more of that!)
So I thought I would bump this as a public service announcement, lol. When we encourage newcomers to tame their chicks, we should also remind them to watch their eyes. Someone in an earlier page mentioned keeping safety glasses in their coop. I think that is a good idea, and that safety glasses around chickens should always be advised. Most people will probably decide to skip the glasses, but the more it is mentioned, then maybe the fewer people who will be surprised by a peck in the eye.
Oh, and my husband was reading over my shoulder, and he thought it was ironic that "The Chicken Chick" was posting about eye safety, and her avatar shows her holding a chicken at eye level, inches from her face!!
Anyway, Happy Easter everyone! Stay safe!
