Chicken with glasses? Red eyeglasses for chickens are small eyeglasses made for chickens intended to prevent feather pecking and cannibalism.
When it comes to knowing how to raise chickens, you may hear about all of the benefits of raising chicken in your backyard. But do these reasons actually stand true? In this blog I explain what some of these benefits are, plus who started the chicken eyeglasses?!
Chicken With Glasses
In the early 1900s, chicken farmers had a major problem. Their chickens were killing each other! The chickens had a tendency to attack their housemates by pecking away at an injured bird’s feathers, devouring its flesh and eventually killing the attacked bird. Once a chicken was wounded, a strange thing happened. The sight of blood encouraged the entire flock to peck at the injured one, leading to an inevitable death.
How did they solve this problem?
They made their chicken wear red eyeglasses!
The insight was simple. The sight of red-coloured blood intensified the pecking instinct in chickens. The red eyeglasses tricked the chicken from seeing the red colour of the blood, thus reducing pecking and even cannibalism. Suddenly, each one became a good neighbour with a rosier outlook!
Red Eyeglasses For Chickens
Chicken eyeglasses, also known as chickens specs, chicken goggles, generically as pick guards and under other names, were small eyeglasses made for chickens intended to prevent feather pecking and cannibalism. They differ from blinders as they allowed the bird to see forward whereas blinders do not. One variety used rose-colored lenses as the coloring was thought to prevent a chicken wearing them from recognizing blood on other chickens which may increase the tendency for abnormal injurious behavior. They were mass-produced and sold throughout the United States as early as the beginning of the 20th century
Description
Chicken eyeglasses were often made from celluloid or aluminum and typically consisted of “two oval panels that fit over the upper beak of the chicken. A pin is put through the nostril to-hold the oval pieces in place.” Different designs were produced that attached to the chicken’s head in different ways. Some were held in place by a strap, some by small hooks into the nares (nostrils) and some by piercing the bone septum between the nostrils with a cotter pin. Due to the piercing of tissue, this last type of design is illegal in some countries. Some versions of the devices had lenses that were semi- or fully transparent whereas others were tinted, often red- or rose-colored. Other designs were blinders which are opaque and completely prevent forward vision. The intended purposes of chicken eyeglasses were to prevent aggressive pecking, cannibalism and feather pecking. Chicken eyeglasses are an alternative to beak trimming, which is the removal of approximately one-third of the beak by a cold or heated blade, or an infrared beam, usually when chicks are 1-day old. This is often effective in reducing pecking injuries, but causes pain and has significant effects on chicken welfare
Red-tinted Lenses
Red-tinted lenses were considered to be effective in reducing internecine pecking because they disguise the color of blood. As summed up in a 1953 article in Indiana’s National Road Traveler newspaper, “The deep rose-colored plastic lenses make it impossible for the cannibal [chicken] to see blood on the other chickens, although permitting it to see the grain on the ground.” Elmer Haas of the National Band & Tag Company, a major producer of rose-colored chicken eyeglasses, whose grandfather had “devised wire frames for chickens in 1902”, indicated that he believed the purported blood-masking effect of the rose coloring was a myth: “the firm added the rose colored glasses because it indulged the chicken owners … [c]hickens are color blind”. (In fact, chickens, like other birds, have good color vision.) The firm had added the rose-colored feature to its glasses in 1939 under the brand name “Anti-Pix”. This variety of eyeglasses was more complicated than others because the red lenses were fixed to a hinge at the top of the frame. This meant that as the hen lowered its head to feed, the lens swung out giving the hen an unobstructed view of the ground. When the hen raised her head, as she would during aggression, the lens would swing down giving the hen a red tinted perception of the environment. Rose-colored contact lenses, rather than eyeglasses, have also been proposed to reduce cannibalism in chickens
Red-tinted lenses were considered to be effective in reducing internecine pecking because they disguise the color of blood. As summed up in a 1953 article in Indiana’s National Road Traveler newspaper, “The deep rose-colored plastic lenses make it impossible for the cannibal [chicken] to see blood on the other chickens, although permitting it to see the grain on the ground.” Elmer Haas of the National Band & Tag Company, a major producer of rose-colored chicken eyeglasses, whose grandfather had “devised wire frames for chickens in 1902”, indicated that he believed the purported blood-masking effect of the rose coloring was a myth: “the firm added the rose colored glasses because it indulged the chicken owners … [c]hickens are color blind”. (In fact, chickens, like other birds, have good color vision.) The firm had added the rose-colored feature to its glasses in 1939 under the brand name “Anti-Pix”. This variety of eyeglasses was more complicated than others because the red lenses were fixed to a hinge at the top of the frame. This meant that as the hen lowered its head to feed, the lens swung out giving the hen an unobstructed view of the ground. When the hen raised her head, as she would during aggression, the lens would swing down giving the hen a red tinted perception of the environment. Rose-colored contact lenses, rather than eyeglasses, have also been proposed to reduce cannibalism in chickens
Red-tinted lenses were considered to be effective in reducing internecine pecking because they disguise the color of blood. As summed up in a 1953 article in Indiana’s National Road Traveler newspaper, “The deep rose-colored plastic lenses make it impossible for the cannibal [chicken] to see blood on the other chickens, although permitting it to see the grain on the ground.” Elmer Haas of the National Band & Tag Company, a major producer of rose-colored chicken eyeglasses, whose grandfather had “devised wire frames for chickens in 1902”, indicated that he believed the purported blood-masking effect of the rose coloring was a myth: “the firm added the rose colored glasses because it indulged the chicken owners … [c]chickens are color blind”. (In fact, chickens, like other birds, have good color vision.) The firm had added the rose-colored feature to its glasses in 1939 under the brand name “Anti-Pix”. This variety of eyeglasses was more complicated than others because the red lenses were fixed to a hinge at the top of the frame. This meant that as the hen lowered its head to feed, the lens swung out giving the hen an unobstructed view of the ground. When the hen raised her head, as she would during aggression, the lens would swing down giving the hen a red tinted perception of the environment. Rose-colored contact lenses, rather than eyeglasses, have also been proposed to reduce cannibalism in chickens
Why Do Chickens Peck Each Other?
There are various reasons why chickens end up attacking each other. The most common reasons are; they are stressed, they are bored, they are living in bad conditions, they are sick, they are scared, or they see or smell blood. Over the years, farmers have come up with ingenious ways to address this behavior but one of the most interesting solutions is the invention of the chicken eyeglasses.
Who Started the Chicken Eyeglasses?
History
A form of chicken eyeglasses was first patented in 1903 by Andrew Jackson Jr. of Munich, Tennessee, as an “Eye-protector for chickens”. In the U.S. they were available through the mail order company Sears-Roebuck, or through chicken feed stores for a few cents. The eyeglasses are no longer produced by the National Band & Tag Company, but are sought as collector’s items. Using chicken eyeglasses was still practiced in 1973, evident by a report in Illinois’ The Hawk-Eye newspaper that a farmer had 8,000 chickens fitted with the rose-colored variety. One inventor of a form of the glasses proposed legislation in Kansas to require all chickens in the state to be fitted with glasses, but his campaign was unsuccessful.
Poultry farming is a form of animal husbandry that focuses on raising domesticated birds such as chickens, ducks, turkeys, and geese for eggs or meat. Each poultry farm follows its own set of protocols and guidelines to ensure the safety of the fowl, but did you know that chickens wear glasses to avoid cannibalism?
To prevent eye-pecking and cannibalism, chickens were fitted with tiny glasses. These rose-colored glasses were especially popular because they were thought to keep chickens from becoming enraged when they saw blood.
They were available in the United States for a few cents through the mail-order company Sears-Roebuck or at chicken feed stores. The National Band & Tag Company no longer manufactures the eyeglasses, but they are sought after as collector’s items.
In 1973, a report in Illinois’ The Hawk-Eye newspaper stated that a farmer had fitted 8,000 chickens with the rose-colored variety. In Kansas, one of the glasses’ inventors proposed legislation requiring all chickens in the state to wear glasses, but his campaign was unsuccessful.
How Did These Eyeglasses Work?
Chicken eyeglasses were made of celluloid or aluminum and typically consisted of two oval panels that fit over the upper beak of the chicken, with a pin inserted through the nostril to hold the oval pieces in place.
Several designs were produced that attached to the chicken’s head in different ways. Some were secured with a strap, others with small hooks inserted into the nares, and still others by piercing the bone septum between the nostrils with a cotter pin. This last type of design is illegal in some countries due to tissue piercing.
Some versions of the devices had semi-transparent or fully transparent lenses. Others were tinted, oftentimes in red or rose colors. Other designs included blinders, which are completely opaque and prevent forward vision.
Beak trimming, which is the removal of approximately one-third of the beak with a cold or heated blade or an infrared beam, is an alternative to chicken eyeglasses. This is frequently effective in reducing pecking injuries, but it causes pain and harms chicken welfare.
How Many Pairs of Chicken Eyeglasses Were Sold When they Were First Made Available to the Public?
Sam Nadler of the National Farm Equipment Company of Brooklyn appeared on CBS’ popular primetime television show, What’s My Line? on January 16, 1955. The show took the form of a guessing game, with a panel attempting to predict the line of contestants.
Mr. Nadler’s occupation was listed for the audience as sells ‘eyeglasses’ for chickens by show officials. Mr. Nadler’s identity was revealed after the panel failed to guess his occupation, and he stated that his company sold 2–3 million pairs of chicken eyeglasses per year.
Benefits of Raising Chickens
1. Wholesome, fresh eggs and meat
One of the most prominent benefits of a backyard flock is that you can produce your own food. Poultry breeds are divided primarily into three groups: egg layers, meat producers and show birds. When cared for properly and fed a nutritionally-complete diet, one bird can produce up to 300 eggs per year or produce quality meat for your family.
Caring for your own flock also gives you flexibility over the production system. When collecting eggs or harvesting meat, flock raisers are filled with the pride of producing their own food and the confidence of knowing the exact origins of the food on the table.
2. Simple sustainability
Backyard flocks are sometimes referred to as “Pets with benefits.” Whether your flock is made of chickens, geese, ducks, turkeys, pheasants or quail, a backyard flock often becomes a part of the family. These new family members are a simple way to self-sufficiently care for your family, yard and garden.
Flocks can be housed in a coop with an outdoor run or allowed to roam free-range, depending on city ordinances and outdoor space. In either case, the birds strengthen the health of the soil by tilling the earth with their feet and beaks and naturally fertilizing the lawn or garden. Birds also eat bugs, which helps to control the insect population in your yard.
3. Family education
Played with each day and often called by individual names, a backyard flock is a popular project for the whole family. A backyard flock can teach children and adults alike where their food comes from, help them connect to nature and instill lifelong lessons of dedication and responsibility.
Before purchasing your first chicks, plan the flock-care program with your family. Make sure everyone involved understands how baby chicks grow into egg layers or meat birds. Then, visit your local Purina® retailer to pick-up supplies and select chicks together. Once the chicks arrive, work as a family team to care for the flock – from baby chick care to egg collection.
4. Backyard entertainment
Almost all flock raisers have tales of their birds’ individual personalities and characteristics. Each breed of poultry is unique and, though there are commonalities within the breed, flock raisers can quickly learn their birds’ distinct personalities. Getting to know our birds makes caring for them even more enjoyable.
Whether you are watching a flock of hens from your back porch or helping baby chicks settle into their brooder, a backyard flock can provide entertainment through all life stages.
5. Show chicken opportunities
In addition to eggs, meat and entertainment, many flock raisers also enjoy exhibiting their birds at local, regional and national shows. At these events, birds are compared to their breed’s standard in The American Standard of Perfection. Judges assign birds a score using a point system for physical characteristics that include: body confirmation, color and feather quality.
Many flock raisers enjoy showing birds because it offers the opportunity to meet other bird enthusiasts from across the country and learn new tips for flock care.