Eating out of your hand - and not pinching!

[lablover]

When my chicks were little, I let them eat out of my hand because their little beaks didn't hurt. At 3 months old, they pinch and grab HARD! I see pics and read about grown chickens that eat out of their human's hand, and I wonder if they will always pinich. Do they?

 

[chickmashnoon]

In my flock, it really depends on the chicken. Some are very gentle and it's so nice to feed them by hand, then the big pushy hens come up and try to take a couple chunks of flesh with them as they gobble down a handful of layer crumbles. My turkey is the worst! he just gets soooo excited that he is pretty indiscriminate about what he is actually pecking at, and he really hurts. but I know he's trying to eat it all fast before the rest of the crowd comes up.

 

[HEChicken]

I agree that individual chickens make individual choices. I don't often hand feed mine but when I do, they are mostly pretty gentle. I think when they grab flesh instead of the treats, it is just a mistake and doesn't happen that often.

 

[lisascenic]

I have one little stinker who charges up to my hand, chomps me hard, and runs away as quickly as possible. I don't know how to modify this painful behavior.

 

[adgcountrygirl]

I have a rooster who is always very gentle. Surprisingly he is the dominant male. The other roo and for the most part, two of my hens are more aggressive. One hen ALWAYS bites me atleast 1 or 2 times while she is eating out of my hand and the rest rarely ever pinch or bite me while eating. I agree that it depends on the bird.

 

[lablover]

Wow, that's interesting! I'll have to see which ones of mine bite while trying to eat.