Plaque eating?

[chickendadma]

This may be kinda gross to some folks, but here goes. Sometimes when I'm holding one of my pullets on my arm and talking to her, she'll peck at the space where my teeth meet and eat something from there, whether a little bit of plaque or just saliva, I don't know.

I'm wondering if there are any health risks of this behavior, either to me or to my chickens?

Do any of y'alls chickens do that? They also like to preen my hair, which I think is very sweet (not so sweet when they go for the moles or eyelashes though!)

 

[azygous]

Yes, I've had my chickens do all those things. Chicks, especially will peck at shiny teeth, and all chickens are always exploring with their beaks, hoping to turn up something edible.

For safety you should not let them get anywhere near your face with their beaks! Besides my teeth pecked, I've had my hair pecked, and my eye pecked a few times.

It's more a safety issue than a health issue.