Nipping Cockerel

[eveliens]

Hi guys, I glance through the forum before posting, but didn't really seem a situation quite the same - although I did get tips to stop the behavior and will be implementing them next time he does it!

I have a 7 week old Japanese Bantam cockerel who has nipped me several times now. It isn't a bite (oh boy definitely not a bite haha) but his beak is definitely open and making contact with my skin gently/briefly. Only on the index finger oddly enough. The first time I thought it was an accident, like he mistook my finger for having a treat or something. However, it has happened a few more times since then, with no treats in hand/sight. It seems to happen when I'm petting other chickens - particularly the other cockerel - honestly, but I don't want to anthopolize jealousy. He's a super friendly boy, loves to be picked up and cuddled/petted, very docile and chill. I don't want to punish him if he's trying to be affectionate or friendly but obviously fingers do not belong in chicken's mouths. He's a bantam, so the damage he can do is limited, but still.

My main concern is, I can't keep him (rooster ban) so I will eventually rehome him. If this behavior is going to escalate to biting or more, I obviously do not want to pass him off, especially not to a family.

Thoughts? Sweet but misguided behavior or the potential to be aggression later on.

Picture of the miscreant for your chicken-loving enjoyment.

 

[SueT]

If you are hand feeding him, stop. It could just be looking for treats, or a prelude to aggressive behavior, in which case, don’t allow him into your personal space. Walk twd him and make him move, every time....

 

[eveliens]

If you are hand feeding him, stop. It could just be looking for treats, or a prelude to aggressive behavior, in which case, don’t allow him into your personal space. Walk twd him and make him move, every time....

I'll start paying more attention when I put my hand in there and head him off. I have been just shoving him back with my knuckles/hand back and he seems to take the hint and walks off. Wasn't sure if nipping was a normal teen chicken behavior (like it is in mammals and young parrots) or if it was just going to turn into biting. So many horrible rooster stories.

I usually toss treats. I've discovered I'm mildly allergic to the chickens (or whatever nasty junk is on them), so I stopped handfeeding/hand perching early on.