My birds seem to have a HARD peck lately, particularly the Australorps. Today I gave them dirt from outside the thing and the Australorp pecked me again and then Orp and Rock joined but with them I believe it was maybe just because I had dirt stuck to my thumb and they thought it was food. But the Australorps just seem mean. A few days ago one pecked my forearm HARD when putting them to bed, didn't "bleed" per se but left a tiny beak sized red mark for the first time. Even as a little baby she has had a hard peck when hand feeding but now seems kind of mean. I don't like the alpha thing for dogs but for chickens it doesn't seem so off that it could be true so while previously I ignored it, I have lately been fighting back. Not hard or violently really and only maybe 2 or 3 times, def not consistent, but one time she did it over food so I chased her away with my hand then she came back and did it again so pecked her neck with my fingers a couple times till i finally managef to get to her head as she was ducking. Then i stood up and walked by. Not official chasing but somewhat. Then crouched again and back to feeding the others and let her back. I make it sound dramatic but really it was all fairly gentle and more shooing than chasing and no other birds were spooked but I figure the others chase her so maybe I should too. She is near the bottom of order I think. The arm pecked day I was just like OW! NO! BAD GIRL! and shut the door, sort of a panic. Today I panicked too and I think I accidentally flung the dirt at her ( it was only a tiny bit in my hands) hah ANYWAY. I know this isn't really the right thread so I'll make my own but I think this started early so my point and question is do you think this is just because of the lack of space as chicks? Because I've heard space issues can cause behavior issues and once it starts it's for life but I wasn't sure if this was from that and if it truly is for life. Because out of the pen in the yard they avoid me so I don't get it. And they really don't seem to peck or fight with each other, other than the occasional squabble and chase over a good treat (worms and for some reason BREAD really seem to excite this), it's really only me. Could it also be all the chasing I did as chicks and they just don't like me? They have been permanently outside 2 weeks now though and no chasing. And now I know some of you didn't think I was very equipped for chicks but that was before and ever since the other chick passing they've been doing great and I check everything often but besides that don't even really go out there. Heck, they even go in the coop all by themselves too ever since the second or third night out there, had to catch them twice, and ever since they go in when it gets dark. Soooo assuming it's my fault? OR. Do Australorps just naturally have a hard beak?
Also i think it's only one but not sure
Also i think it's only one but not sure