Why are my chickens pecking me constantly?

[jennykpna]

I'm about to eat a chicken. It comes at me to peck my toes when I wear flip flops. I scream and kick it gently away, but it gets aggressive and I scream and run in the house. First, my chickens have pecked my bracelet before and I never minded. They seemed gentle and curious. This one is challenging and aggressive. I think I'm gonna eat it, but it is a good egg layer. What to do, it thinks I'm less in the pecking order than I am or something. Starting to loathe that chicken. My three that are a year older are not like that, I never feared them. This one is different and has been laying for just a few months now. Help! Or I'm eating this baby Rhode Island Red!! I won't be afraid to wear flip flops in my own yard. This is unbelievable

 

[JanetS]

jennykpna - I have "chicken/barn shoes" that I only wear around my chickens. Your "going to town shoes" can bring illnesses home to your flock. Also if you have on nail polish sometimes chickens can think that your toes are bugs(or something to eat) and will peck at them.

 

[the poppster]

My chickens are my pets. They know who I am, and like to have attention. I usually like to sit up there and spend time with them, they like to to petted and even jump on my lap and shoulders sometimes. However, they've started pecking me. Mostly my Leghorns, they practically crave attention. My Barred Rocks and Sex-Links peck too, but not as consistently the Leghorns and it doesn't hurt as much. It doesn't make time spent with them enjoyable. I'll just be sitting there and the Leghorns will crowd behind me and peck and my arms and such. I understand when it's a freckle or shiny object they peck at, but it's not always like that. Do they want something? Feed? That the only reason I can think of, perhaps I'm not feeding them enough. They're not being territorial, because they get so excited when I come up to see them. What do you guys think? 

Chickens are naturally very curious...they may be just pecking for the fun of pecking.

 

[galvinj]

I'm about to eat a chicken. It comes at me to peck my toes when I wear flip flops. I scream and kick it gently away, but it gets aggressive and I scream and run in the house. First, my chickens have pecked my bracelet before and I never minded. They seemed gentle and curious. This one is challenging and aggressive. I think I'm gonna eat it, but it is a good egg layer. What to do, it thinks I'm less in the pecking order than I am or something. Starting to loathe that chicken. My three that are a year older are not like that, I never feared them. This one is different and has been laying for just a few months now. Help! Or I'm eating this baby Rhode Island Red!! I won't be afraid to wear flip flops in my own yard. This is unbelievable

I would take that hen and hold her down with your hand on her back to make her squat and keep her down for a few minutes. Another option is to pick her up and hold her firmly for a few minutes. Either may take repeating but eventually she will get that your the boss.

 

[Blackberry18]

I'm about to eat a chicken. It comes at me to peck my toes when I wear flip flops. I scream and kick it gently away, but it gets aggressive and I scream and run in the house. First, my chickens have pecked my bracelet before and I never minded. They seemed gentle and curious. This one is challenging and aggressive. I think I'm gonna eat it, but it is a good egg layer. What to do, it thinks I'm less in the pecking order than I am or something. Starting to loathe that chicken. My three that are a year older are not like that, I never feared them. This one is different and has been laying for just a few months now. Help! Or I'm eating this baby Rhode Island Red!! I won't be afraid to wear flip flops in my own yard. This is unbelievable

After posting this thread, I've have done some research. Whenever your chicken pecks you, administer a sharp "peck" with your finger, which is the standard way of telling chickens who above who in the pecking. She should get the idea after a few days, my Leghorns did, but I still have to "peck" them once in a while. Chickens peck out of curiosity, but you have to teach them that they shouldn't peck hard. Do not jerk away or show that you are scared of them. It make them more aggressive.