Chickens over enthusiastic about being hand fed. Normal chicken behavior?

[aart]

7x7?
Got a pic?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Should I just cut out hand feeding all together? It seems unlikely that they'd be able to understand the difference between routine care and treats. They do understand that "chick chick chick" means goodies.

For the time being I would discontinue hand feeding completely. They can still get treats when you call to them (it's good training), but I would throw them on the ground or have them in a dish that you can put down.

 

[Tatuana]

7x7?
Got a pic?

I'll get one in the morning.

I'll cut out hand feeding for now and just toss it. They're greedy snots.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Ravenous eaters.

 

[aart]

I'll get one in the morning.

Great!
Wondering too...
.... if they are in the basement do they get any natural light and/or outside time?

 

[Tatuana]

Great!
Wondering too...
.... if they are in the basement do they get any natural light and/or outside time?

Yes! They actually only go in there at night. During the day I leave their cage open, and have taught them to go up the stairs to the garage door. From there they peck around for a minute and flee to the back yard. At night I call them/chase them back in the door and into the basement to their cage. The only reason they're not out there 24/7 is that I have to move their cage (coop) outside and that means taking it apart. The coop is right next to my basement window that faces the sun. It's a wonky situation, but they've gotten the gist. Lots of treats to bribe them up/down stairs and through doors.

I should also add, the only reason I cage them at all (yard is VERY secure - free range rabbits). Is that Demon Kitten finds it great fun to chase them. Not maim, just scare em a little/lot. So I can only let them out when I can guard Demon Kitten. It took me an entire year to teach her to not kill my cockatiel. I don't expect she will leave the chickens alone until they're big enough to swat her.

 

[Tatuana]

So I don't have a picture of the cage. Demon Kitten discovered a way into it and was bullying the chickens all night. We've relocated them to our empty 2 car garage. Window opened (with screen) and then I leave the back door open to let them run outside. I put in a hut for them to sleep in, food and water. They seem to enjoy it, I think. They keep zooming across the floor and flapping their wings. Which causes the other babies to attack flapping baby.

They're still violent about treats. Hoping for improvement soon!

 

[Chickncrzylady]

I have had chickens for 40 years. I have raised a lot of chicks and my children did also. We have never experienced what you described. Their feeders were kept full and we didn't hand feed them. Definitely stop hand feeding if they are attacking like that.