Chickens Pecking Fingers?

[KWestVA]

Does anyone know why chickens may peck at your fingers? Even my most sociable, affectionate hen who loves to be pet and held will peck at my fingers if I reach toward her. Do they think I'm holding a treat, or do they have visual acuity issues that cause them to think my fingers are food??

 

[nuthatched]

Do You paint your nails or anything like that?
Peck them back when they do that.

 

[KWestVA]

No nail polish.

 

[JedJackson]

Sometimes they peck because they are scared or angry, and that usually hurts a lot.

When they peck gently it is either they think your fingers are food or they're mildly annoyed and want to be let down.

That's the way I figure it, anyway.

 

[KWestVA]

Sometimes they peck because they are scared or angry, and that usually hurts a lot.

When they peck gently it is either they think your fingers are food or they're mildly annoyed and want to be let down.

That's the way I figure it, anyway.

This is gentle pecking. I guess my fingers look yummy!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Perhaps it is a form of greeting? Or maybe a way of figuring out where exactly you fit or belong in the pecking order? In any case, I see it as a form of communication. So I would agree wirh @nuthatched, above, when she says to peck them back. Not with your beak, of course, feathers up the nose is not a pleasant experience! Instead form a "beak" out of your hand. That's it, put your thumb together making your hand into a cone shape that, if you tip your head just right, close one eye and suspend all sense of realty, does look just like a chicken's head! You're ready. Nest time any hen pecks you, peck her back, on top of the head with the "beak" of your little "hand-puppet" chicken head. Peck only as hard as she pecked you. One nice thing about your little chicken protector on your hand there, is that he's always with you!