Hens pecking my freckles...cute or bad behavior?

[vstoltzfus]

My hens frequently peck legs. It starts off with them pecking my freckles, but sometimes they peck where there are no freckles. It doesn't really bother me, but I don't want to let them continue any bad behavior. It crossed my mind that perhaps they are tasting (and enjoying) the salt/sweat on my skin. Anybody have any experience with this behavior?

 

[easttxchick]

Mine do this all the time-doesn't really bother me unless someone pecks or bites especially hard.

Think this is just a chicken being a chicken!

 

[Metanoia]

I try not to let mine do it because it can hurt. Every now and then they get me. A few days ago I was pecked in the teeth because I wasn't paying good enough attention to the hen in my hands and her inquisitive look at the shiny things in my mouth. Ouch!
I'd probably try brushing them away when they do it to try and discourage it. You might think it is fine, but what if you have a guest and they do it then?

 

[danielle82]

The other day one of my orp was sitting on my shoulder and I wasn't really paying attention to what she was doing, and she pecked my eye! I lost my contact in the peck, not sure if she ate it or it fell out. Today one of them pecked my daughters eye, I don't know if it was the same one or not. I don't think chickens can be disciplined? I like that they "like" people, I don't want them to run from us, but I will definately be keeping them away from faces! At least the buff orpingtons, till I figure out a way to tell the eye-pecker apart from the others!

 

[kees]

If it was me, I'd probably discourage it.

Suzy

 

[NellaBean]

I would discourage it.

 

[farmin'chick]

My sister's rule with her goats is, don't let them do anything when they're cute and itty bitty that won't be cute when they weigh 200 pounds....Guess you could apply the same sort of rule to chickens!