Vikki56 Posted September 3, 2012 Share Posted September 3, 2012 (edited) This morning Ginny chicken tried to peck my eye! Bellatrix was a bit off colour over the weekend & I had her to my right & didn't see Ginny, head raised, approaching me on the left. Fortunately my reflexes kicked in and my eye closed before her peck landed but she has drawn blood on my eyelid & I'm feeling somewhat shaken . I pushed her away and told her no, but she kept trying to get close to me again. Is it worth getting a bumper bit for her? Or is some strong discipline needed here? She has never gone for me/been agressive before so I'm not sure if i was jelousy as I was talking to Bellatrix or if she is top of the pecking order now and was trying to get me in line! Any help/ideas appreciated Vikki x Edited September 5, 2012 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chucknette Posted September 3, 2012 Share Posted September 3, 2012 Hi It can and has happened to some people on here. Chickens are attracted to shiny things and there's nothing like a glistening eye to them. I am always aware it could happen so I am usually ready for it. I put thing down for them with a really stretched out arm to give me a chance of getting out of the way. If I remember rightly there was a lady on here who's chicken actually caught her eye. Hope it clears up soon for you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted September 3, 2012 Share Posted September 3, 2012 Yes I don't think that Ginny was attacking you or meaning to be viscious. Chickens just love shiny things so it is important to keep your face out of their reach. I wear glasses for long distance and when I check my chooks are in bed at night I always put my glasses on before I lean over the perches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stu Posted September 3, 2012 Share Posted September 3, 2012 I have been pecked in the eye by one of my hens, back in the day when I have them in the UK. It sliced a crescent out of my cornea, and it was agony..!! Apparently, it was more likely to be trying to catch my eyelashes than asserting any kind of pecking order on me, so I think it's unlikely you are going to have any major 'authority' issues. Wear glasses... any glasses, both to make it harder to reach your eye, and to bring the 'shiny thing' forward so they will not be pecking directly at you, but in front of you (if that makes sense?) I hope you heal well, but really..? Don't worry about the hens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted September 3, 2012 Share Posted September 3, 2012 Vikki56 - just a thought - this is probably something that chicken keepers need to be aware of so might it be an idea to re-name your post to be more specific?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vikki56 Posted September 5, 2012 Author Share Posted September 5, 2012 Good thought Chubby Chook, I've renamed as suggested. My eye is fine now, and pretty soon after it happened I realised Ginny hadn't meant to harm me, just chicken nature. Gave me a bit of a shock though & am very lucky it wasn't more serious. Vikki x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gongladosh Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 you could always give her a good scowl next time and that should send her a message! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HennyPenny59 Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 I have a skin tag in the crease of my arm, and a small mole on my forearm, and my girls have always tried to peck them off. Gretel actually managed to get hold of the skin tag the other day and wouldn't let go ... It really hurt!! When I go into the run, I now wear long sleeves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majuka Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 Glad that you are ok, that could have been nasty. I agree with the others about chickens and shiny things. I was wearing a clear lip balm one day when I bent down in the girls enclosure. Bertie studied me for a moment then pecked me really hard and split my lip. Bertie was the sweetest, most gentle girl and there was no way she would have intended to hurt me - I think my shiny lips were just too much temptation for her though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
