Chicken bald back

[Abbey Road Girl]

Hey, this may be a very odd topic. Who wouldn't want to cuddle a chook? That's right, "Ooops, word censored!"ody.

 

But kissing? I can see myself doing it but how sanitary is it? My son works in catering and, while welcoming chickens, has made me very aware of scrubbing up as if for ER.

 

I guess that this sort of odd question is what forums are for!

[cluckbok]

Apparently my husband has but not on the beak!! Cuddles is more my favourite thing!

[jomaxsmith]

Yee Gods, no!

 

The idea of getting a peck to the eye, lip or losing an earring would put me off, let alone the germs issue!

 

I find it revolting when people kiss any pet - especially when they lets dogs lick their mouths

 

Mind you, I am a bit of a germ-phobe and wash my hands after touching the chickens, handling the eggs, everything. I wear my contact dermatitis as a badge of honour!

 

Jo

[nursechick]

Our girls peck everything that moves so no,I'd prefer to keep my facial features...such as they are.

[BarbaraJ]

Lol i'm not ultra fussy but i'm not into kissing pets, cats, dogs (on the mouth) ewww ,

chickens no way i'd risk getting pecked so nope!

maybe on their bodies have to see!

Edited April 14, 2008 by Guest

[Guest]

I kiss Maud and Bea on the back of their heads and whisper to them how much I love them, they seem to like it The others aren't so keen on being handled.

[Ziggy]

I'm not squeamish about kissing pets, I kiss our cats, I'd happily kiss a dog, I have kissed my daughter's rats, I haven't kissed any of the fish The cats lick us a lot, and it doesn't bother me either... My daughter was once cuddling and stroking a friend's dog at the school gate, then the dog licked her and my daughter just went ' Aaaaah, the dog kissed me and my mouth was open!!!!', which gave us all rather a laugh, she wasn't too put off by this, I obviously wouldn't encourage that kind of snogging, but it was accidental that day

The chooks I haven't kissed, but that's because I don't tend to sit and cuddle with them... I stroke them when they are near me, but don't often pick them up, I prefer to watch them hover around my feet than to hold and cuddle them. They don't mind being picked up, but do seem to prefer being left on the ground and stroked too... I'd have no strong issues with kissing them though...

 

Germs are a funny thing... I fully understand people trying to do their best to avoid them, but I also tend to listen to people who say that the more germs are avoided, the more likely we are to get more seriously ill when we do get exposed to them, while regular exposure (within reasons) strengthens the immune system... I read an article once which suggested that kids that play a lot in gardens and don't get thouroughly scrubbed of every speck of mud the moment they get in the house, tend to be ill much less often, and fight infections off faster, than kids that are kept totally clean at all times (I have a sister who scrubs her kids so thoroughly with soap twice a day, and does so much 'spot cleaning' in between, that I'm surprised those kids have any skin left... and yes they are always ill, and also developing all kinds of allergies)... I am no scientist, but even our GP once said to me, when my DD2 kept getting every virus and bug over a few months and always reacted worse than anyone else to them, that I should try not to keep her too clean...

 

I wouldn't snog my pets too much (anyone who's smelled cats' occasionally very fragrant breath will understand why) but a light kiss on the top of their heads is something I find myself doing naturally with no worries at all, and I don't discourage my kids from doing it either...

[xScrunchee]

Kiss a chicken

Nope-never!!!!!

 

(Not on the beak or face though-normally on their backs or necks)

[Egluntyne]

Germs are a funny thing... I fully understand people trying to do their best to avoid them, but I also tend to listen to people who say that the more germs are avoided, the more likely we are to get more seriously ill when we do get exposed to them, while regular exposure (within reasons) strengthens the immune system... I read an article once which suggested that kids that play a lot in gardens and don't get thouroughly scrubbed of every speck of mud the moment they get in the house, tend to be ill much less often, and fight infections off faster, than kids that are kept totally clean at all times (I have a sister who scrubs her kids so thoroughly with soap twice a day, and does so much 'spot cleaning' in between, that I'm surprised those kids have any skin left... and yes they are always ill, and also developing all kinds of allergies)... I am no scientist, but even our GP once said to me, when my DD2 kept getting every virus and bug over a few months and always reacted worse than anyone else to them, that I should try not to keep her too clean...

 

I totally agree with this.

 

They say you have to eat a peck of dirt before you die!

 

Also....my friend's child had terrible eczema.

 

Her GP said don't bath her for a week....just wash the important bits, and then see what happens....you are washing all her defences away.....low and behold, there was a vast improvement.....not a complete cure, but it became liveable with.

 

 

Back to the original question....no.....I don't kiss my chickens.

[Pookylover]

Sorry I am rubbish with the quote thingie but I totally agree with Ziggy too. I don't encourage our children to 'snog' our pets but a kiss on the heads now and then doesn't hurt at all. I love my horse to bits and he has a VERY RARE peck on the muzzle. A horse sees this as a sign he is the boss and although he is a gelding he still thinks he has all the equipment! As for my husbands two shires, NO you would be risking facil surgery is you went too close to their mouths. They are very food oriented! As for a chicken, I think I would go along with the majority of people here and say no they would probably peck! Clare x

[alih]

my kids kiss the dog frequently (not on the mouth intentionally) and the chickens on the heads when they ( rarely) hold them. I do too but only on the back of the head as I am far more worried about being pecked than I am of catching anything!

[Olly]

er - nooooo! mainly for the reasons posted above, too worried about being pecked. I don't cuddle them either - not my thing, and they don't like being picked up that much.

 

I am quite cautious about washing my hands after touching them. I had two episodes of D&V just after I got the chickens last year, could have been coincidence but it made me a bit wary, and having done a food hygiene course I am a bit fanatical about cleanliness in the kitchen.

 

I do agree overall with what Ziggy and others say above though - we are all obsessed with 'germs' these days, and spend far too much time and money on cleaning things that don't need cleaning. So what if there are bacteria in the plughole - unless you poke your fingers down there, they are not going to come up and bother you! I blame the advertisers of cleaning products, they try to create a need by scaring us.

[Keanie Bean]

No I dont, even if I wanted to they sort of look at you and your never quite sure if they are about to land a peck. I was pecked by a tame crow at a zoo once as a child and it wasnt nice.

 

Sarah.x

[Trixabell]

erm yes I do...not on the beaks but on their backs and the back of their necks when i give them a lil cuddle, can't help it i love em a lot and i kiss everything, my dog gets covered in kisses everyday, he probably gets more than the OH, and even my hamster on his back when he will let me

 

I'm just a loving person...i totally believe given Gwyn little kisses helped calm her down at the vets on monday and she gets one every morning after i give her her antibiotics....maybe its just me

 

Edited to say please don't get the wrong idea....i'm not into beastiality....just love my pets like they were my children x

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Don't think I've actually kissed the chickens but I've maybe stroked my cheek with the back of their heads (they're so soft!) .

 

I'm always kissing my dog though - but usually on the top of his head. I'd wouldn't really want him licking my mouth (awful dogbreath, him not me ).

[mrsm_jones]

Yee Gods, no!

 

The idea of getting a peck to the eye, lip or losing an earring would put me off, let alone the germs issue!

 

I find it revolting when people kiss any pet - especially when they lets dogs lick their mouths

 

Jo

 

Actually, because of all the enzymes in a dog's mouth, they are actually cleaner than our own, even after licking their own bottom! While I wouldn't actively encourage our dog to lick our faces, I'm not totally grossed out by it. Just another fact...the phrase "like a dog licking it's wounds" is a great idea! I believe if you let a dog lick your wound, it will heal faster. NOt that I'm about to try it though!

[cathybc]

I haven't kissed my chooks yet - not had them long - but I am sure I will do in due time.

 

The bunnies and chins get kisses sometimes, and the cats all the time. I know it isn't really very hygenic - but I am still here.....so far !

[chili pepper]

I havent kissed my chickens mainly because of the thought of a peck in the face but I must admit I have wanted to when I am giving them a cuddle

 

I kiss my dogs all of the time and they will even come and give me a kiss when I ask them to They usually only lick my chin but I often kiss them on the nose (being greyhounds they have the most gorgeous long nose) everyday, actually alot everyday!! Rio has a thing about feet and will lick inbetween my toes, she loves bare feet - I love it but Hubby hates it

 

I have to say I agree with the germ thing too, I keep a good standard of hygiene and I have a thing about my floor being spotless, I will hoover about 4 times a day but my 4 children have always been allowed to climb trees, stroke farm animals etc (before there were hand scrubs at farms) and get muddy etc and I have to say (touch wood) that apart from one appendicitis my children have had nothing more than the very odd cold.

[chanters]

I kiss Maud and Bea on the back of their heads and whisper to them how much I love them, they seem to like it The others aren't so keen on being handled.

 

Glad I'm not the only one! I do it too if they're a bit under the weather. Do yours do that little contented beak rubbing thing when having a cuddle and the occasional kiss on the back of the head?

[MedusA]

I have done once or twice, on top of their heads, but more "not really thinking" rather than a deliberate act. I like to cuddle and stroke them, and tell them I love them though, because I do.

 

I do kiss my bunny on top of his head too, but that is deliberate. He's so soft and fluffy

[Strepsy]

I air-kiss the cats. lol. And probably the chickens also when they get a bit more used to being handled.

[HENthusiastic]

If I've been spending time with the chooks and I'm saying goodbye, I will often pick them up one by one (just off the ground); plant a big kiss on the middle of their back and pop them back down again!

HATE dogs or cats licking my face or Mouth . Mouth to mouth is for partner ONLY!

[Chickybaby]

I'm always kissing my pets.....it's my way of showing them affection! The rabbit and guinea pig always get a kiss whever I pick them up, the dogs get kissed several times a day and even the chickens don't escape.

[Guest]

I'm not squeamish about kissing pets, I kiss our cats, I'd happily kiss a dog, I have kissed my daughter's rats,...

 

I had a pet rat once and he was so loving and lovely, he used to lick my fingers and his tongue was literally like velvet! He was so adorable and funny. I probably kissed him too but it was years ago so I can't remember but he was brilliant! RIP my little Odo xxx

 

Oh I used to kiss my last budgie too, he was my best little birdy friend til he died, RIP my sweet Billy xxx

 

I only kiss them on the head though.

[Guest]

I kiss Maud and Bea on the back of their heads and whisper to them how much I love them, they seem to like it The others aren't so keen on being handled.

 

... Do yours do that little contented beak rubbing thing when having a cuddle and the occasional kiss on the back of the head?

 

yes and the eyes start closing and they sort of smack their lips (Yes I know they have beaks but it's the best way to describe it )