Hammerdrill beaks...help!

[CathyS66]

I am confused.
I was led to believe that hand feeding is a nice way of getting friendly with your flock.
With the exception of my very large Splash Orpington Eliza who is gentle when extracting mixed corn from my palms....the others go at it like bleedin hammer drills and take usually take skin along with the corn....(not literally of course but it pinches).
Am I doing something wrong in my hand feeding technique?
Love my hens!

 

[sourland]

You're not doing anything wrong - pointy beak = OUCH. Try wearing light gloves when you hand feed.

 

[yyz0yyz0]

Try to hand feed things that are single items per bite that you can hold in your finger tips. As an example, a piece of cheese held in your finger tips will be taken from you hand with no problem, put that same piece of cheese on your palm and you are likely to get pecked.

Last summer I collected a bag of cicadas and they make the perfect handfeed treat as I can hold them out one at a time and they are taken from my finger tips with no problems.

Single meal worm in finger tips, no problem. handful of mealworms = equals peck peck.

the tastier the treat the more risk you are at as they are all in a rush to get more before anyone else.

 

[CathyS66]

Thank you...will get some treats that can be given singularly... Not sure about cicadas as they don't live around these parts.. too wet n cold LOL