Chickens pecking me!

[Bawkinghen]

Is there a way to teach the chickens not to peck me all over when I bring them treats. I try to hand out treats to each one when I come in and some of the more dominant hens will sneak up and peck me because they think I should only give treats to them. And I mean they will peck me hard on the back of my arm or my feet or something. I can understand that they peck at things that look like food like my toenails or my shiny wedding rings or something, but when they just peck for no reason at my skin it really bugs me. And I should be the top of the pecking order, so no one should be pecking the treat giver, right? I'm new at this, so I don't even know if they can be trained to be patient or at least not pecky at me.

 

[Bawkinghen]

I guess this is normal and everyone is probably laughing at my silly question. I can just deal with it, but gosh darn it hurts, especially when they come up from behind and surprise me.

 

[pdirt]

I've been told that it can be a sign of affection and/or trust if they peck you. A couple of my birds do peck me when I am bringing out the fermented foods, but it doesn't hurt. I am also wearing long thick pants or jeans and rubbery garden clogs, so that does give me some protection. Even if it was on bare skin I don't think it was really cause damage (such as draw blood) but while at first it was a bit annoying I think it's kind of cute now. I'm pretty new to chickens as well so I am not sure if they can be trained or not.

 

[Bawkinghen]

So love pecks, huh? The main chicken who keeps pecking at me so hard is also the one who talks to me the most too. I never know if she's excited to see me or wants me to go away though. I'll just assume she loves me.

 

[RoseMarie1]

LOL yeah mine do this to me to. Although SOME do peck harder than some of the others. I have a cockerel that really pecks hard and I got after him today when he pecked my leg. I always wear shorts out to the pen because it's so hot and humid here I'd die out there in pants. I always go out there and clean the pen when I take their food out there. But I always just thought it was they liked me and was just showing their affections since this is basically the only way they can do that. ??? But's then again I am new at this and I might be wrong.

 

[Jenny77]

Some of mine will peck me till I pick them up. These are the ones I've raised from chicks. The others that I got after they were a few months old to a year old, just follow me when I have feed or treats for them.

 

[txnative]

Maybe take a squirt gun/water pistol with you and squirt the one that pecks? It works with a lot of dogs when you want them to stop doing something

 

[Bawkinghen]

That's a good idea. I will have to try it out. Thanks