Can I start this thread with a mad face???

[hisbride]

I just want to stomp around and be mad! I raised our chicks which are 16 weeks old. I have fed, watered, and cleaned up after them. I have made special trips to get things for them. I got up early and raked out all their feathers that were everywhere in the coop and all I want to do is pet or hold my chickens. I don't think that is asking too much but every time I put my hand in to pet my pullets I get pecked! Dang! Dang! Dang! The Barred Rocks are the worst culprits! They are not shy so they walk right up but then they peck my hand! Ok it is not the most hurtful thing I have ever felt but no one likes to get pecked! The Dellies sneak up right behind the Barreds like they are watchin' and learn' and ready to do the same. Now my Red Stars don't care to come to me. If I manage to reach in near a Red Star she'll just walk away but every now and then there is one that will let me pet her. I call her Lil' Lady.
What frustrates me is I got Dellies and Red Stars because they were supposed to be a gentle friendly breed or so I thought.

 

[ThunderStruck]

It might not be what you think it is. they prob are not doing it to be mean. Let me as k you, Do you feed them a lot of snacks by hand? Do have shiny things on your hands or wrists? Like rings or maybe a bracelet?

Forrest

 

[Cheri]

rowdy loves to try and get my wedding ring.

 

[lurky]

If you corner one and catch it and then crouch down to a sitting position and put it on your lap, you can pet it then and scratch its neck. If you do this it should sit right down and relax and before you know it the others will be trying to get up too. Thats my secret.

 

[Southern28Chick]

My barred rocks use to peck at me. I think they are just a mean breed, just kidding. This is what I do. I grab a chick (their 2 months old) and of course she screams like I'm about to bite she head off. I hold her and pet her until she stops screaming. I hold her close to my body under she belly with her feet hanging down. Then I pet her head until she just about falls asleep. Then I rub my finger up and down under her neck and she LOVES it. Now a lot the chicks remember the neck rubs and one of my barred rocks will come up to me and lift her head straight up in the air as if to say "rub my neck mommy". It's so cute. I have a leghorn that gets mad if I don't pick her up and she'll peck my feet until I do.

 

[hisbride]

I don't have anything on the hand I put in and when I feed snacks I throw it in. My husband holds his left hand out just because he is ammused that they peck at his ring. I can't easily get into the coop si put my hand in the fence. *If* I can get any hen to be still to order to grab and pick her up to hold it will be Lil' Lady every time. The rest are just boogers!

 

[hollyclyff]

My Dominique was bad about pecking my hands, but at the same time very friendly. I knew she wasn't being mean, but it still wasn't fun to be pecked. I started using a stern "No" when she did it, just like if she were a teething puppy. It worked wonders in a very short time. She still jumps in my lap everytime I sit down, but she hardly ever pecks me anymore. Except the occasional freckle - we're still working on not trying to eat freckles.

 

[wendy]

Quote:
we got our barred rocks when they were 5 months old two are not nice

they peck like you said. but the black sex links they let me stroke there tail feathers, lift them up off a egg, etc. we only have four and i wish we had more of them and less barred rocks. i hate to say that but it is the truth.

 

[mudhen]

Gosh, I'm lucky! My barred rock, Lucy, is the sweetest of my bunch, comes running to me when she sees me, then looks up and purr-talks to me all the time.
I never really got them to be lap-chickens, but they all come up and talk-bawk with me when I spend time with them.

I do have to admit if I put out an empty hand, they think my painted nails are something to peck at...same for my toes if I'm in sandals.

 

[wren]

Hisbride-are they trying to dominate you or just curious about your hands?