Hen pecking my kids

[Alexandra33]

Long story short: some hens are born biters! Sweet, and to the point.

From your brief description, this doesn't sound like aggression. While I can't provide an in-depth explanation for her behavior, I will say that one of my favorite girls (there are others, but she's the worst offender) is the same way. No matter the circumstance, she seems to enjoy chipping away at exposed skin....or biting through clothes. The number of times blood has been drawn continues to grow. Even visitors steer clear. Can't figure out what's running through her little mind. All I can say is this - Bug simply hosts a flesh fetish. That said, I wouldn't trade her for the world.

It wouldn't hurt to try suggested methods to curb her nippy nature, but there aren't any guarantees. If these prove unsuccessful, culling/rehoming would be best to keep the peace.

~Alex

 

[chrissynemetz]

I have a hen that goes after my grandson's freckles.... he says they must look yummy to her lol

 

[Pekin747]

She is the top bird, I have not added any new ones, does she think I’m a chicken? Lol!!

Possibly

 

[aart]

Use your thumb and forefinger to make a "beak" and peck her in the back or neck whenever she pecks at you. Not hard enough to hurt, but ideally hard enough to get a reaction (mine usually squawk). That's how chickens tell each other to back off.

Also have you been giving these chickens treats by hand? She might be pecking you to try and get you to hand over the snacks (usually they aim to peck at the hand if that's the case). If that's a possibility, I would stop treating by hand and simply toss the treats on the ground instead.

This^^^ works for me....but

My kids are scared of her now. They are 2 and 4.

might not work for tiny kids as they won't understand.

 

[Redhead Rae]

This^^^ works for me....but

might not work for tiny kids as they won't understand.

I think the fly swatter idea is a good one (for the kids). It isn't heavy enough to do damage, but they can make her keep her distance from them.

I had Delaware hens that were like this. I got rid of them for just this reason. I have too many chickens to try to retrain a bitey hen and I don't want my kids to have to deal with them either.

 

[cnol]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I just started pushing her away with my shoes and my husband picked her up once. She's a little more mellow today. She also laid a giant egg lol

 

[SurferchickinSB]

Long story short: some hens are born biters! Sweet, and to the point.

From your brief description, this doesn't sound like aggression. While I can't provide an in-depth explanation for her behavior, I will say that one of my favorite girls (there are others, but she's the worst offender) is the same way. No matter the circumstance, she seems to enjoy chipping away at exposed skin....or biting through clothes. The number of times blood has been drawn continues to grow. Even visitors steer clear. Can't figure out what's running through her little mind. All I can say is this - Bug simply hosts a flesh fetish. That said, I wouldn't trade her for the world.

It wouldn't hurt to try suggested methods to curb her nippy nature, but there aren't any guarantees. If these prove unsuccessful, culling/rehoming would be best to keep the peace.

~Alex

I think the fly swatter idea is a good one (for the kids). It isn't heavy enough to do damage, but they can make her keep her distance from them.

I had Delaware hens that were like this. I got rid of them for just this reason. I have too many chickens to try to retrain a bitey hen and I don't want my kids to have to deal with them either.

Once the little ones chase them around with the flyswatter, they will run away anytime they see the kids with the flyswatter! They probably won’t come within 50 feet of them!

 

[Dawnclucks22]

I had a RIR just like that. She passed away from disease, but unfortunately nothing I did could curb her behavior. You could try placing her in "chicken jail" completely isolated from the others for a couple of days and then returning her. Sometimes this will cause chickens to have to fight for their spot in the pecking order again. Good luck.

 

[bobbi-j]

Kids should come first. They're already scared of her. How long until they develop a lifelong fear of chickens (or birds in general)? I know it can happen - I have a cousin who is terrified of anything with a beak because of an incident when she was very little. I'd get another bird and get rid of the pecking one.

 

[cnol]

Kids should come first. They're already scared of her. How long until they develop a lifelong fear of chickens (or birds in general)? I know it can happen - I have a cousin who is terrified of anything with a beak because of an incident when she was very little. I'd get another bird and get rid of the pecking one.

I hear you. We won't hesitate if she continued to hurt the kids. She hasn't pecked since the day I wrote this post and started poking her back or just pushing her away with my shoe.