Can you train chickens to NOT peck you so hard?

[Tucs]

This may seem like an idiotic question but my almost 5-week-old pullets (mostly, I hope) have started pecking our hands quite hard. This is not a big deal for me but it is frightening and painful for my little grandchildren. We want these hens to be "pets" and I don't believe they're being malicious, they just don't realize their own strength. Can chickens be trained like dogs and horses to stop being "mouthy" or rough?
Also, could this be a sign of cockerels in our midst? One (a Buff Orpington) is especially large and much fiercer than the rest.

Thank you in advance for your comments or suggestions!

I have a fairly small flock and my chickens are pets. My alpha hen is a rather small BO and she got very ill after her first molt. I took her to the vet and we had to administer medicine. It is still a miracle that we saved her, but if she hadn't been used to being handled it could not have worked. She's been broody twice since and has helped to grow our flock. I still handle her and the chicks and when she pecks I just stop her. I agree though that young children should be limited in their contact. Best for both parties.

 

[Tucs]

I'm new to having chickens, I rescued my f one in April, she was only 6 weeks old. She can be a brute! I have ear rings and i have my lip and a dermal next to my eye....She had to Explore ALL of them! My girl (Tilly) is a pet/house chicken, so I have hand fed her. She never pecks my hands for food. It was shiny things. But if she did, I would tap her beak and say NO! It seemed to work. She likes laying on my chest and she will take her beak and pick at my collar bone and neck...it looks like the same thing they do to dig in the dirt when they are taking a dirt bath. It's like she is trying to 'fluff' me up, so she can get comfy! She does HARD,and I blow on her head, and she stops! Then i make her get down. She doesn't do it that much anymore. And about chickens not being as 'trainable' as a dog or cat...i don't agree. I had never touched a chicken, let alone owned one. I rescued Tilly and thought I was going to find her a home....lol...yeah right! So I didn't know what chickens were or weren't able to learn. I just treated her like my other pets....chickens are VERY smart. I had her in a cage at night in the bathroom, which is connected to my room. I would bring her in my room in the morning and she learned to jump on the ground and go to her cage for food and water. She won't poop on my bed...She jumps down and will go to the 'puppy pad' I have for her! She sees me drink from my water bottle, and will run over and beg for a drink. So I take the top off and let her drink. I think if you handle them more and just treat them like you would a dog, you will be surprised with how much they learn!
Anyways, i hope this helps. And Good luck

I totally agree with you. Chickens are much smarter than we give them credit. All my chickens know their names, they know the sound of our cars and start getting excited knowing someone is home and will let them out to forage. They also come into the kitchen to beg for treats.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

You don't have too stop just keep them away from eyes

I had a Great-aunt nicknamed "Birdy" who had her left eye pecked out as a child.

 

[Misplacedhippie]

I had a Great-aunt nicknamed "Birdy" who had her left eye pecked out as a child.

Wow!

 

[Debutante]

I had a Great-aunt nicknamed "Birdy" who had her left eye pecked out as a child.

OMG!!! That is truly horrible! :-( I wonder if she acquired the nickname "Birdy" before or after the accident?

 

[BantyChooks]

I do hand-feed my birds, and I have had a few problems with chickens getting nippy. For some, it seems to be a personality trait that I can't fix... I just watch my back around them and don't let them near my face.

If I'm having a biting problem with my chickens, I'll first remove food that I'm offering if they're too rough. If they persist in being a pest after food or whatever they want, I'll give them a peck on the head with my finger. It works really well to get the "Cut it out" message through. They'll usually make a startled squawk and jump away. They're allowed to come back again and take another try... They usually figure it out pretty quick.

Also---I've only tried this on hens. I do not know if this would work for cockerels/cockbirds. Who knows, it may incite unwanted aggression.

Just my two cents... Works for me.

 

[Nadya Russell]

I personally don't allow such behaviors nor to I hand feed, I scatter all treats. I think you can have either one way or the other, and it would be impossible to teach them to peck lightly.

I am new to pullets, but I am a horse and dog trainer, not by trade. I tune pianos. Anyway, I spent hours watching my chicks and how they react to each other's pecking or jumping on top of each other. They make a distictive sound when their space is invaded. I call it a BRRRR sound. So when one would check my arm out and want to peck, I would act like an unhappy chicken and in a loud voice say BRR!!! They got the message and never peck me again. They are almost 8 weeks old. 2 Barred Rocks and most likely 2 Red Stars. I hope this helps.