Chickens jumping

[Iluveggers]

I love my girls so much. When I sit in the run, a few of them will come over and peck at my legs (which I’m ok with but I worry about them scaring my cousins), and hopping up on my lap (which is adorable). One of my ladies will jump on my chair and try to climb up on my shoulders or head which I really prefer her not to do as I am worried about getting innocently pecked in the face. They are not aggressive at all. I’m wondering some tips or thoughts on what to do. Will they outgrow the pecking as they start laying? They are about 2.5 months old now. Thanks!

 

[Crazy Maizie]

They are just curious. Mine peck at my boots to get whatever goodies off when I come into the run. My young pullet does peck at me to pick her up. She's a silly polish. But, she doesn't peck my face since I hold her so that shes facing away from my face. The older ones don't really peck at me unles I have treats in my hands.
As far as jumping, they do like to jump and get to high places. If you're worried about younger children getting hurt, I would just make sure they aren't in the same area alone and that they know how to properly hold chickens.

 

[Iluveggers]

They are just curious. Mine peck at my boots to get whatever goodies off when I come into the run. My young pullet does peck at me to pick her up. She's a silly polish. But, she doesn't peck my face since I hold her so that shes facing away from my face. The older ones don't really peck at me unles I have treats in my hands.
As far as jumping, they do like to jump and get to high places. If you're worried about younger children getting hurt, I would just make sure they aren't in the same area alone and that they know how to properly hold chickens.

Thanks! I was hoping it wasn’t a sign of future aggression. They are really fun to be around & I want to make sure the littles can enjoy them when they visit!
Any tips to get my one off my head? She’s tried it twice & I just stand up & shake her off. Lol

 

[Crazy Maizie]

Thanks! I was hoping it wasn’t a sign of future aggression. They are really fun to be around & I want to make sure the littles can enjoy them when they visit!
Any tips to get my one off my head? She’s tried it twice & I just stand up & shake her off. Lol

Pretty much that's what I do. She obviously feels comfortable around you.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Any tips to get my one off my head? She’s tried it twice & I just stand up & shake her off. Lol

Push her off if she even tries it or looks like she wants to try it. You want her to learn it's not fun (because she's being pushed off) so she doesn't even want to do it.

 

[3KillerBs]

I learned when keeping cockatiels that it's important to never let a bird sit with it's eyes higher than your eyes because the dominant bird perches highest.

Thus lap chickens and chair arm chickens are OK but shoulder chickens and chairback chickens are not.

 

[Iluveggers]

Push her off if she even tries it or looks like she wants to try it. You want her to learn it's not fun (because she's being pushed off) so she doesn't even want to do it.

I learned when keeping cockatiels that it's important to never let a bird sit with it's eyes higher than your eyes because the dominant bird perches highest.

Thus lap chickens and chair arm chickens are OK but shoulder chickens and chairback chickens are not.

Thank you both! It is something I want to break before it becomes a pattern. I loooove the lap sitting but the shoulder/head jumping was making me nervous. Luckily it’s only one of my BR. She’s the friendliest by far!

The culprit:

 

[Folly's place]

Set boundaries! 'Cute' can become a royal pain, and these birds can learn to jump on your lap only when invited, and not to peck you. Jumping on your head or shoulders, a very bad idea!
And if you ever have visitors, nobody will be pleased. And that cute pecking can easily turn into grabbing, hard. Ask me how I know this...
The dominant hen in the flock isn't pecked, jumped on, or pushed around in any way. She does the pushing and pecking, as do the rest of the hens, right down the line.
You are the giant who brings food, outside of the flock pecking order, and you set the rules.
Mary

 

[Iluveggers]

Set boundaries! 'Cute' can become a royal pain, and these birds can learn to jump on your lap only when invited, and not to peck you. Jumping on your head or shoulders, a very bad idea!
And if you ever have visitors, nobody will be pleased. And that cute pecking can easily turn into grabbing, hard. Ask me how I know this...
The dominant hen in the flock isn't pecked, jumped on, or pushed around in any way. She does the pushing and pecking, as do the rest of the hens, right down the line.
You are the giant who brings food, outside of the flock pecking order, and you set the rules.
Mary

Thanks Mary! Any tips on the best way to do that?

 

[Folly's place]

I peck back, hard and fast, and would sweep that bird off, in mid-air if possible. Make these behaviors uncomfortable/ unpleasant, and repeat as often as necessary.
Throw treats on the ground, don't hand feed, at least for now.
One of my 2020 pullets was very pushy, nipping at every opportunity, and I pushed back, hard. She would sometimes sneak up from behind to grab, fortunately my jeans (no bare legs out there!), and was a real challenge. By this year, she's still very interactive and interested in what I'm doing, but has given up on this very pushy obnoxious behavior. It did take a while, but we got there.
Mary