Solar Eclipse + Chickens = Blindness?

[DesertBird]

Hello, I'm not sure where this goes, so sorry if this is in the wrong place.

As I'm sure everyone knows, p) there's a total solar eclipse today, with differing times and coverage for each state. My state is at about 62% coverage. I know a human, dog, cat, etc. will/could go blind from looking at the sun during the eclipse, but can a chicken? Is it best to keep them in the coop? I don't think anyone's had to deal with this before! lol (What a year to begin my chicken keeping. )

 

[BantyChooks]

Hello, I'm not sure where this goes, so sorry if this is in the wrong place.

As I'm sure everyone knows, p) there's a total solar eclipse today, with differing times and coverage for each state. My state is at about 62% coverage. I know a human, dog, cat, etc. will/could go blind from looking at the sun during the eclipse, but can a chicken? Is it best to keep them in the coop? I don't think anyone's had to deal with this before! lol (What a year to begin my chicken keeping. )

Think about it. It doesn't really make sense. Why would a chicken look at the sun? They could go blind from looking at the sun any day of the year.

Just my opinion. There are many threads about this topic.

 

[DesertBird]

Think about it. It doesn't really make sense. Why would a chicken look at the sun? They could go blind from looking at the sun any day of the year.

Just my opinion. There are many threads about this topic.

lol True. I'm just wondering if by the time it's totally covered, they'll look to see what's up with the sky.

 

[BantyChooks]

lol True. I'm just wondering if by the time it's totally covered, they'll look to see what's up with the sky.

If they do react, it will be in the form of heading to the coop to roost.
#27

 

[bobbi-j]

I agree with BC - I don't think it's an issue. This is a case where our animals have more sense than some humans. They're not going to care why it's getting dark and look at the sun to try to figure it out. They're just going to go about their business.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

From their perspective, they'll probably think its evening. I've heard of people's livestock calling, but I think they're basically preparing for bed but complaining like a 3 yr old that they're not tired yet.

 

[andreanar]

There is a thread going about the eclipse and our chooks. A lot of us are planning to watch our chickens and observing their behaviors. I do not think they will look at the sun, but I am interested to see if they head to roost or show any diff behaviors with the change in environment. I am in the 75% area.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

There is a thread going about the eclipse and our chooks. A lot of us are planning to watch our chickens and observing their behaviors. I do not think they will look at the sun, but I am interested to see if they head to roost or show any diff behaviors with the change in environment. I am in the 75% area.

Same here, I'm in about 60%, and Unfortunetly at work... but I've asked my kids to keep an eye on it.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Hello, I'm not sure where this goes, so sorry if this is in the wrong place.

As I'm sure everyone knows, p) there's a total solar eclipse today, with differing times and coverage for each state. My state is at about 62% coverage. I know a human, dog, cat, etc. will/could go blind from looking at the sun during the eclipse, but can a chicken? Is it best to keep them in the coop? I don't think anyone's had to deal with this before! lol (What a year to begin my chicken keeping. )

Excuse me while I have a Pop Eye the Sailor Man moment because. "I have stood alls I can stand and I can't stands no more!"
.
Rest easy, BR6. Spot, Rover, Fluffy, and Henny Penny the heritage hen are not intellectually curious enough to stand out in the blistering heat staring up at the piddling little star we call the Sun. Only today's humans are that mentally challenged.

As for the historic significance of this event, contrary to what Yahoo and other non-news news sights reported on the World Wide Web of Deceit, this is NOT the first total solar eclipse of the Sun to favor the USA in the past 99 years, far from it. I think that the one that occurred in 1970, but because of cloud cover was only fully observable in the Okefenokee Swamp predates today's eclipse by some 47 Earth years. In addition, the next eclipse as significant and total as the 1970 eclipse will not happen in the USA for an additional 7 years, or until 2024. So if you find yourself outside in the middle of the day, and it suddenly begins to get cooler and darker RUN, don't walk to your residence and crawl under your Sealy Posturepedic mattress because the sky is falling.

No animals were harmed by Maw Nature's Solar eclipse.
Animals are pick one...
(1.) Far to smart for that or
(2.) they have no interest in the study of physics and the Universe.

http://www.nevadaappeal.com/news/lo...clipse-awes-millions-except-for-one-gray-fox/

ECLIPSE AWES MILLIONS; EXCEPT FOR ONE GRAY FOX

Majestically, the moon moved across the face of the sun Saturday, the sky darkened and a great shadow swept the earth. Millions looked up in awe.

From the Pacific to the North Atlantic, through Mexico, eastern edges of the United States, through Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, the shadow marked the path of the total eclipse of the sun.

Sea birds flew inland in flocks on Nantucket Island, as at dusk.

Rockets rose form the darkness of Wallops island, Va., into a midday sky dotted with stars as scientists sought answers to solar mysteries.

At Virginia Beach, Va., and other areas with the 85-mile-wide shadow of total eclipse the temperature dropped suddenly as the warm rays of the sun were blocked.

And deep in the Okefenokee Swamp in Georgia, birds stopped chirping and the swamp became still. Paul Johnson, a state ranger in the swamp, watched a gray fox curl up and go to sleep on the bank of a stream, "something the fox wouldn't do in the middle of the day."

Skies were clear long much of the line of totality, especially in Mexico, at Wallops Island, Va., on Nantucket Island off the Massachusetts coast, affording a once in a lifetime experience for residents of these areas.

There won't be another total eclipse of comparable duration in or near the United States until 2024.

The partial phases of the eclipse, depending on local weather conditions, could be seen by countless other millions throughout almost all of North America, throughout Central America, from the southwestern edge of South America.

In many cities, people were seen peering up at the sky without filters; despite repeated warning that direct observation of the sun during the eclipse could produce serious eye damage, perhaps even blindness.

 

[andreanar]

I am betting there will be many more humans with eye damage than chickens LOL