When I was a kid my mum, would advise me to stop my whining and fussing over my boo-boos. We’re of good British stock; translation: it’s a matter of pride to keep a stiff upper lip in the face of pain or adversity. Curiously though, she did like to show off any war-wounds that she had incurred. Many years ago, she sustained a substantial purple bruise on her thigh while tobogganing. To my horror, she would whip her pants down in front of anyone – including my grade 5 classmates – to show it off. Believe me, it took far too many days for that bruise to lose its shock appeal.
I’ve grown up to be a bit of a chip off the old block. If I sustain an injury – a paper cut, bruise, burn or a bleeder – I want the attention it deserves. I can’t tell you how disappointed I am to have a painful injury without much to show for it. The best ones are dramatic looking without the suffering. Nothing like milking something for all it’s worth.
Over the years I’ve experienced my share of chicken-related injuries: scratches, bites, cuts, slivers, falls, sprains and one hospital visit to be fitted with a temporary cast.
I know misery loves company so I’ve collected a number of similar issues experienced by other chicken keepers. Don’t look if you’re squeamish and if you’re a show-off send me your own story and photos that I will add to the next edition.
Photo credits: (left clockwise Andrea Palmer; Tina Abel Hale; Crissy Welch; Cel Jecille Gooch-Hall)
Linda Kumher Idom
None of my family understands my obsession with my chicken, but the hopeless look on my 40-year-old son’s face when he asked me, “What did you do to your foot?”
“Well, I was trying to grab/chase an escaped chicken and tripped on a ……..
“What?”
“Daphne’s fast”…
I don’t understand why he just shakes his head as if I’m insane or a crazy person who owns 23 cats. Do y’all think 53 chickens are too many?
If I’d have known how much I’d enjoy these chickens I wouldn’t have waited till I was 58 to get them; I’d have had them when I was 23.
It’s worth it.
Jennifer Hinze Mohr
I had a hen defend her littles while giving fresh water. Front of my lower leg. Antibiotics did not do the trick, had to see a surgeon to “clean it out”. Took months of packing. Left with a scar. I referred to it as my bullet hole. Surgeon had a sense of humor and appreciated fresh eggs at each visit. (That was about two years ago when they were affordable.)
Bonnie Wyatt Fulton
I listened to the BS advice about dealing with an aggressive rooster by picking him up and carrying him around. My rooster, Rip, went full-on exorcist mode by turning his head completely backwards and biting me on my chest. We have a love/hate relationship.
Mandy Kites-Vickers
Looking for a doctor to remove your skin tags? Have no fear Dr. Ginger at Vickers Chicken Pickers is here! Only one quick peck and it’ll be gone.
My wife is mad but I think it was a free service.
She must have thought it was a bug; she really is the sweetest girl.
I have scars on my knee from slipping on wet leaves coming out of the coop and landing on a sharp rock. Last summer I got heatstroke from chasing a random dog around the yard cause my chickens were free ranging and I was trying to keep the dog away.
My ankles are calloused from wearing fur-lined short snow boots into the coop.
The chicken wire on the door has ripped my clothes on many occasions. I had one hen peck me and drew blood that left a bruise.
I ran with the chickens and fell over a tree stump that was hidden by tall grass. I’m thick so when I fall, I go down in slow motion.
Photo credits: (left clockwise : Debbie Weeks Cottle; Tammy Lyn Bates; Nicole Coker; Dena Divorl)
Cajun Creek Farm
When you stab yourself on a dull dirty object it still hurts like hell two days later. I slipped while closing a window in a brooder.
Gabby Lundgren
Taking “care” of our broilers a few years ago my dad sliced his palm open with a fillet knife. First time he got stitches. The sad/funny thing is that he was opening the knife package. He missed the whole butchering.
Emily Neumann
After a few too many drinks I accidentally played a round of slip-in-shit inside the coop and flew two feet in the air before landing right on a chick. He broke his leg and I still can’t walk right.
Madi Adams
When I broke my ankle I wasn’t supposed to be walking around, but I had 200 birds to take care of. The lawnmower came in very handy.
Maddy Haynes
My cousin’s rooster spurred me while I was taking care of her animals while they were away. Even after a few rounds of antibiotics it was still infected for over seven months
Brittany Webb
Rain and flip-flops don’t mix!
Brianna Mayes
Does preparing to care for chickens/ducks count? A couple years ago, I was going to get the side-by-side out of the shed with my five-year old. I slipped on the mossy mud and fell onto an old farm implement and got a nice puncture wound right below my knee. Luckily I had black sweats on, so when I calmly told him to go get his dad he couldn’t see the blood everywhere. My husband ended up having to call for an ambulance because I kept passing out from blood loss. I made him take off my boots because I knew they’d cut them off since I rolled my ankle too. They had to get me stabilized before they could take me to the hospital.
Natalie Mcdermott
Got a call from our neighbor saying a fox was getting our chickens, so we raced into our driveway, jumped out of the car, and I went down. Broke my pinky, needed surgery and lost six of our seven girls.
Jess Orth
My hubby slipped in January 2020 coming out of the run and cracked his head on the bottom of the doorframe when he landed. Apparently that caused some bacteria to get in and it didn’t really cause any signs or symptoms until a few months later, which resulted in encephalitis, but mimicked the symptoms of COVID, My work kept putting me on quarantine even though we both tested negative. He hardly ate or slept for over a month and started having horrible hallucinations, which resulted in me telling him he was going to the ER! They sent him to Iowa City where they did a spinal tap and finally found the root of the cause. I had to be off work till mid June when it was finally somewhat safe to leave him unattended at home.
Talara Wagaman
I slipped on a sheet of ice bringing treats to my flock. My whole body came directly down on that ankle. Then I had to army-crawl up the hill of ice. I slid down on, and up, a flight of stairs to get to my garage where I could yell for help. 10 out of 10 don’t recommend!
Patricia Fadgen
I shattered my ankle while out tossing scratch to them.
Three surgeries ending in an ankle fusion to save me from a foot amputation. Rolled my ankle on a tiny rock trying to step back from stepping on a chicken under my foot.
Kitty Dowding
Ouch! I got spurred by my rooster.
Jamie Rieger Lies
Pecked in the eye. Luckily, she missed the cornea, but was it so painful!
Audrey Munzker
I broke my arm going to close the chickens up for the night. It was pouring outside. I went down the wheelchair ramp in case I fell down the stairs! (I’m not in a wheelchair) That’s how that worked out! I wore a cyborg looking thing for a while. It wasn’t fun for sure!!
Lynn Whiddon
A storm took the canopy covering my hen house and run this last winter. I was trying to wrangle it in the wind and rain when the wet walkway jumped up and smacked me in the head. Never saw that <~#%!($&@ coming. Hubby is now building a permanent roof over it this summer no more chasing canopies in the rain. This was me a week after the accident.
Thanks to everyone who shared their stories and photos. Featured photo credit: Chelsea Sadler (sepsis).
If you’ve got something you’d like to contribute drop me a line via the ‘contact’ button on my homepage.
Bitchin' Chickens 
I also fell while tending my chooks. I always wash the areas in the shower andlean really well but the cuts do take time to heal. I thought it was just me but after looking at this I consider I’m lucky.
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I continue to be amazed at the care and kindness shown by all of you. I never thought about you being at risk for such serious and painful injuries as you do the most ordinary things. And still you love them! Chicken lovers are amazing. ml
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