Bad habits during feeding - any suggestions?

[Alexandra33]

Two of my favorite boys picked up rather annoying habits over the past couple months that only occur at specific times.....namely, mealtime. While not an emergency, I'd rather like to try to train them out of it.

First case: Wheaten Ameraucana bantam, 3 years old. Whenever it's time to feed the flock, he flies up on a surface that's level with me, only to strike violently. His bites hurt! Unless I dispense vittles, he continues in a snake-like fashion....repeatedly.

Second case: Easter Egger bantam, nearing 8 months of age. His problem relates more to the containers I use for feed. Whichever hand happens to be grasping a container, he flies up and bites quite hard. This is displayed 1-3 times before pouring. If I'm not holding anything, he approaches my hands for pets.

I've thought of a couple things that might work, but first wanted to see if the experts had any ideas that didn't cross my mind.

For clarity - neither male is human aggressive. They're both gentlemen in nearly all respects (polite towards hens, love young children, and can't get enough cuddles from their handlers), just need a little correcting in this area. I also won't consider any techniques that involve scaring or hurting them. No sticks, other sharp objects, kicking, chasing, ect.. I've learned from my mistakes, and after ruining many a cockerel, will never again engage in such violent acts.

~Alex

 

[ShrekDawg]

Well, first of all, may I ask why you only feed them at certain times?? I think it would be a lot easier on you, and better for them, if the food was available/out all the time and they had free choice. They are likely so crazy because they are hungry! When my chickens run out of food and I refill it, they always mob the bowl! They never attack me but can sometimes get a little mean to each other. Not their fault; they are hungry. Therefore, I try to never let the bowl get empty. I think leaving full food bowls down for them to eat whenever they want will solve the problem.

However, if you can’t do that for whatever reason, then I must say that honestly, you are inadvertently rewarding their bad behavior when you dispense food after being so violent. A relatively simple solution, although potentially a slightly time consuming one, is to simply withhold the food until they stop pecking and stand there calmly. I know it sounds overly simple but extinguishing behavior really is fairly simple. Remove the reward and it should stop. That said, when extinguishing behaviors, the behavior often gets worse before it gets better!! They try harder to get you to cave. Don’t. And you have to be 100% consistent. If you are not or are consistent 9 times out of 10, 99 times out of 100, they know you might cave that one time, and therefore will keep trying and trying. You have to completely stop the reward. I know it sounds easier said than done and I am NOT saying to starve them or anything like that, but just simply wait until they stop the behavior to feed them. You might be waiting a while. That is fine. You can adjust feeding times if needed so you have time to wait. Waiting is important. If you feed them when they peck you, even if you wait a couple pecks then do it, you’re still rewarding it. Peck, get the food, peck more next time. You don’t have to be mean or harsh or scary or anything either. Simply withholding the reward is a correction within itself. All you have to do is be firm and unwavering, which I know is very difficult lol but I would put gloves on and/or long pants and shirt so the bites don’t hurt and you can wait as long as you need. Also, if any of them are flying up, simply push them off the surface or pick them up off it and set them down if you’d rather. It’s not mean and they do need to be taught. Just keep putting him on the ground when he flies up. Or just get gloves and wait it out. But either way, ignoring has a really strong effect. You will get ignored (and/or put on the ground then ignored) and no food until you behave politely. This should work. I can’t say how fast it will work or how long it will take as I have never done it with a chicken before but this method also works with most other species too. And then be sure that as soon as he is calm and not pecking you, you feed him. You can eventually increase the duration you expect him to be calm for too. But the real key is ignoring the bad behavior and waiting for good behavior before rewarding (feeding) cause otherwise you are just rewarding the bad behavior even without meaning to.

Good luck!

 

[2 many chickens]

I don't know but it sounds like my oeb roo I have. He is a great roo and knows his place but he hates cups. He usually knocks it outta my hand and feed spills everywhere. Maybe bantams just hate cups. This is a big pink hospital cup. He hates its guts. Wants that cup dead

 

[PouleChick]

I hope you find a solution!

Maybe bantams just hate cups. This is a big pink hospital cup. He hates its guts. Wants that cup dead

That made me snort my coffee

 

[aart]

Well, first of all, may I ask why you only feed them at certain times?? I think it would be a lot easier on you, and better for them, if the food was available/out all the time and they had free choice.

My thoughts too.
It's 'feed bucket aggression'.

 

[Alexandra33]

@KDOGG331 , you have provided wonderful advice. Thank you. I had the same ideas in mind to begin with, and this served as confirmation.

These chickens are true hogs. No matter how much we feed them, they finish within an hour or so. Providing 24/7 feed would still mean constant refills. We had to limit their portions a bit, because some members of the flock were becoming overweight.

I don't know but it sounds like my oeb roo I have. He is a great roo and knows his place but he hates cups. He usually knocks it outta my hand and feed spills everywhere. Maybe bantams just hate cups. This is a big pink hospital cup. He hates its guts. Wants that cup dead

Let's be honest....that big, evil cup probably did something horrible to him when you had your back turned.

I hope you find a solution!


That made me snort my coffee

Thank you!

My thoughts too.
It's 'feed bucket aggression'.

Perfect term.

~Alex

 

[aart]

These chickens are true hogs. No matter how much we feed them, they finish within an hour or so. Providing 24/7 feed would still mean constant refills.

How many birds do you have?
How many days in a row did you try the free feeding?
What kind of feed are you using?
...and what kind of feeders, are they dumping it all on the ground//floor?
Sorry for all the Q's...it's just odd that they would over-indulge and be so feed aggressive.

 

[ShrekDawg]

My thoughts too.
It's 'feed bucket aggression'.

Yeah, exactly my thoughts

 

[ShrekDawg]

How many birds do you have?
How many days in a row did you try the free feeding?
What kind of feed are you using?
...and what kind of feeders, are they dumping it all on the ground//floor?
Sorry for all the Q's...it's just odd that they would over-indulge and be so feed aggressive.

I have the same questions. Does seem odd. The only thing I can think of is they are not used to having food available all the time and would overindulge but I would think after a few days or maybe even a week or two at most they would stop overindulging once they realize it is there all the time. Also maybe a bigger bowl.

 

[ShrekDawg]

@KDOGG331 , you have provided wonderful advice. Thank you. I had the same ideas in mind to begin with, and this served as confirmation.

These chickens are true hogs. No matter how much we feed them, they finish within an hour or so. Providing 24/7 feed would still mean constant refills. We had to limit their portions a bit, because some members of the flock were becoming overweight.

Let's be honest....that big, evil cup probably did something horrible to him when you had your back turned.

Thank you!

Perfect term.

~Alex

Glad I could be of help!! Good luck and I hope you solve this problem