Biting pullet

[chickens really]

Quote: I agree....If a new Person to owning Chickens is being pecked? Then it is time to teach a new behaviour....

Cheers!

 

[Lynnski]

I just wanted to give you all an update...

There has been no hand feeding, they havent been allowed to climb on me but i still pick them up to check them and they are all ok with that.

Although i am still working on it, things are better. My barred rock (appropriately named Cluck Norris) is tenacious!

The tapping on the head and back was ok for the moment of that day and sometimes she would get the message for the rest of the day... But it seemed like the movie Groundhog Day because every morning we would have to start over! hahaha!

Each day she would seem a bit more resistant to the "lesson" and actually lash back with more force. Its funny, the other 3 easily understand that they are under me on the food chain, Cluck, however, wakes up thinking she is top gun!

Part of the problem is that i dont want to hurt her and was unsure how to pin her like a rooster would. I dont know normal chicken or rooster behavior. Of course the first few "pins" she laughed at me and wiggled her way free. I cant recall if it was mentioned here or i read it on another thread, but i remember someone saying never let an aggressive action go, even if you have to chase them around to get the last word.

So we did this dance this morning (another Groundhog Day) when she pecked me while putting the waterer down. She didnt expect the pin-down with the first infraction! It scared her and the rest of the day has squatted with wings out when i go to pick her up.

I am sure repetition is in the cards, but today i feel like some real progress was made.

Thanks again for all the suggestions!

 

[Wyatt0224]

Well that's good to hear! It sounds like you might've through with her today. I know my RIR rooster (the one in my avatar) when he disciples his girls he will not let them go. They have to free themselves.

 

[Shezadandy]

I just wanted to give you all an update...

There has been no hand feeding, they havent been allowed to climb on me but i still pick them up to check them and they are all ok with that.

Although i am still working on it, things are better. My barred rock (appropriately named Cluck Norris) is tenacious!

The tapping on the head and back was ok for the moment of that day and sometimes she would get the message for the rest of the day... But it seemed like the movie Groundhog Day because every morning we would have to start over! hahaha!

Each day she would seem a bit more resistant to the "lesson" and actually lash back with more force. Its funny, the other 3 easily understand that they are under me on the food chain, Cluck, however, wakes up thinking she is top gun!

Part of the problem is that i dont want to hurt her and was unsure how to pin her like a rooster would. I dont know normal chicken or rooster behavior. Of course the first few "pins" she laughed at me and wiggled her way free. I cant recall if it was mentioned here or i read it on another thread, but i remember someone saying never let an aggressive action go, even if you have to chase them around to get the last word.

So we did this dance this morning (another Groundhog Day) when she pecked me while putting the waterer down. She didnt expect the pin-down with the first infraction! It scared her and the rest of the day has squatted with wings out when i go to pick her up.

I am sure repetition is in the cards, but today i feel like some real progress was made.

Thanks again for all the suggestions!

Nice job!! Timing is everything and I think you earned your Cluck Norris badge today- good instincts! If you've got her squatting for you, you made major strides today in the chicken realm!!!

 

[aart]

It scared her and the rest of the day has squatted with wings out when i go to pick her up.

That's huge...Good Job!
You Win with the Pin!

It's hard to know how, until you know how......I think you've got it now ;-)

 

[ChickenMomsince2025]

This is very helpful thread! I'm having the same issue with one of my 11 weeks old pullet that is currently on the top of pecking order. My sweet girl is trying to dominate me now.
I used to love gardening with her. When I find grubs, I'd give it to her. The other I did the same thing but now she gets frustrated with just one. I didn't think much of it. Just tilting the soil with a little hand tool. She came right under my face digging for more grubs (this used be normal and playful) but not finding any, she looked up at me and bit my face really close to my eye. It really hurt. It didn't bleed but almost. I screamed and I pushed her away. She ran few steps away but looked at me like, what's the big deal. I was really alarmed how close it was to my eye. Later that day I was giving everyone treats and intentionally I didn't give her any. She was flipping out. She bit my finger demanding. I thought I heard her barking. I couldn't believe my index finger fit in that little face. I've been tapping her beak whenever she bites me but the head and back makes more sense. That's what they do. She used to be so sweet and now she's a scary teenager. I'm gonna have to watch some videos how to pin her down. I knew I should've stopped hand feeding them but they're so cute when they eat off my hand. Now I'm really going to stop though.