Update: Pissy -> Going Blind Chicky?

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
I read through the posts.... UM... how old is she? Does she do other things like growl at you (chicken growl...LOL) and puff up? If shes laying age and does the other things she may be thinking of going broody. Broody hens are biters sometimes. Even if she isnt setting she maby be feeling the need..... Just a thought. There is a Broody Hatch along educational thread you might post some questions there. OH and Chochins are fabulous broodys.

 

[Nicole01]

Maybe you can earn her trust by giving her treats out of your hand daily. I've handled my chickens daily since day one and they all fight for a certain spot on my lap. I usually have to sit legs uncrossed, so there's room for everyone. Some hop up on my shoulders. The only problem with this is, they jump on everyone that walks in the coop. Even the most skittish was tamed, which surprised me. Keep up with the treats, hopefully she should come around. Good luck!

 

[sumi]

How's things going now?

 

[ezekielSM]

Hello!

I'm still not sure if it's a vision issue. I repeated the same thing- talking softly while greeting her on the perch while the others were on the floor greeting me, raising my right hand to pet her, she made happy noises. I raised my left and she got edgier (as usual) but this time, no pecks. Usually after I do this and then take her off the perch to hold her for a few minutes and put her on the floor so she can eat/drink, she snuggles right up.

I think you guys were right in that she must really like her solitary perching time!- she tried to peck me twice when I lifted her up (first time she's done that). I guess maybe she waits even when she's hungry/thirsty for the others to be done first with their floor routine.

No pecking when I use my left arm though, which is a plus.

Edit: She's STILL being harassed at food time by the slightly older girls, poor Stormy

 

[nobodyherebutuschickens]

Quote:
I agree, I think it's a vision problem. When I collect eggs after roosting time, if they can't tell that it's me they make odd little pterodactyl-warning-chirps. If I get too close to my little red-star, she is NOT aftaid to tuck into me with her beak. During the day, they're just fiine. Let her have some space.

 

[sumi]

Glad it's going well, she sounds adorable
We had a dog who sometimes got eye infections. One day he tried to bite me and when I shouted at him he backed off and looked very embarrassed. He couldn't see properly and didn't recognise me, so he got aggressive.
Maybe your hen is just a bit funny in her own way about certain things. It's just weird that it's always the left arm
Have you tried feeding her apart from the other hens? Then at least she won't get beaten and bullied. Poor sweetheart.

 

[ezekielSM]

Gah, I missed previous replies! *headdesk*

@sumi: I feel better hearing that.

I'm the kind of guy who can't stand hurting -bugs- >.<'
@nobodyhere: Yeah, I'll try doing that and see if it helps any.

@sumi again: She's amazingly adorable. She's so docile that she just runs and hides whenever someone gets poofy at her. The semiaggressive behavior seems to be fear-based and even then, she's completely cuddly. She just stays wherever the other chickens aren't 90% of the time. I'm trying to help her get out of her skittishness- even when I first got her, she was the runs-away chick.

 

[sumi]

You're right, fear triggers aggression, even in humans! I got attacked and nearly killed by a drunk guy a few years ago. He ran up to me and grabbed me from behind. So even now, after all this time, if someone sneaks up on me from behind there's a good chance they'll get punched! It's instinct...
I really like your chicken. I'm a chicken hugger

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

I have a Cochin that's blind in one eye- its quite obvious that she has a vision problem. She walks with her head turned so she can look from her good eye and always pecks in that direction as well. I have to feed her away from everyone else or she gets pushed away from the food. However, she doesn't peck when she's approached on her bad side, and she'll come running when she's hears my voice. A few of my Cochins will peck at me when they are on the roost- and they can see perfectly fine. Maybe she needs another Cochin friend to buddy up with so she won't get picked on as much. I have 14 of them, and they run in a little mob, so all of the other chickens avoid them. Stength in numbers I guess. Good luck with your girl!!!!

 

[ezekielSM]

Hello! :}

@sumi: Oh man, that sucks, I'm sorry to hear

I've grown up watching people continually, trying to understand how they work. I've honestly found no difference between animals and the human animal except that the latter can change their behavior based off of creating ethic and moral, whereas animals simply survive and don't bother with the latter. (

) But yeah, with Stormy, it's pretty easy for me to see it, especially in her eyes. No matter who goes over to her except Amberbock (our white, called-amber-sexlink), she'll automatically bow down and huddle herself up. When I look at her, her eyes tell me anxiousness and fear. =< She's trying to be a big girl and even stood up to Chai once, but got put in her place. The pecking order is so complex! I know Chai's on the top with Stormy on the bottom- I think Tiramisu (our Speckled Sussex) is 'under' Red (RIR) who's under Chai, but I can't rightly tell. Chai's more dominant than Red (who's simply Simple-Minded-ADHD-girl), but Red was the first chicken. Haha, sorry, rambling.

But yes!! I love hugging chickens. X3 I'll hug them just about every chance I get (usually first thing in the morning when they greet me and jump up for hugs, then when I come home from work, etc).

@How: Yike, that sucks. Today it seems like she's only slightly slower in response when viewing things from her left eye; she'll then turn her head with both eyes. But due to spacial constraints (72-sq. ft coop in an apartment w/ acres of woods outside to play in), no more chickens just yet. To be honest I'd love to breed her for more Cochins, but her personality's not the best as far as breeding goes. Best personality goes to Tiramisu and Jet (our Speckled Sussex and mysterious black/red chick). I'm also wondering if Chai's just being a racist and doesn't like poofy chickens! She wasn't nearly as pecky/harassing to the other chickens as she was to Stormy. For Jet it only took about 4 days before Jet learned her place and Chai left her alone and got along fine, but it's been pretty continual in one way or another with Stormy. Sheeeeesh!

Unless Chai thinks she's a roo.