Mean pullets

[vtester]

I am a new member, but not extremely new to raising chickens. I have a little bit of an odd problem, I purchased 6 pullets from TSC a little after Easter. We kept them inside until feathered out and until the temperature was warm enough to put them out. These chicks were handled and loved everyday, but never really warmed up to us. They are now just mean. They peck and bite, I have never had any chickens ever act like this. Is there anything I can do to calm them down?
BTW two of them are white leghorns, two are red sex links and the last two are buff brahmas.
Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[lightchick]

Maybe they think that their the boss.

 

[drumstick diva]

Sorry I don't know what to suggest. Some breeds are just not friendly but, I can't imagine why all of yours are acting that way? How old are they? Do you think some are cockerels? Do the birds fight among themselves or just act mean to people? Boy, no desserts for them!!

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! When are the chicks pecking and biting you? When you try to hold them or hand feed them or something or are they actually attacking you etc? X2, are you sure they are pullets?

 

[vtester]

They are approximately 11 weeks old, all but the brahmas are sexed and guaranteed to be pulleys, and appear to be. The brahmas also look like pullers to me, but it is my first time with them. They don't seem to fight each other, they just don't seem to like people. They were babies(barely had wing feathers) when we brought them home. The chicks that I purchased at a flea market a few weeks beforehand are wonderful, sweet pets, I was expecting the same

. And they will jump and actually peck or bite a little during feeding or if your hand gets too close to their coop. I am starting to think they are pterodactyls!

 

[TwoCrows]

Welcome to BYC!

If they are pecking at your hands, they may be just looking for food you might be feeding them. You need to go sit with them in a confined area and get them used to you more. Chicks can be worked with much easier than larger or grown birds. So do it now so they friendly up. As they turn into adult chickens, you really can't hand feed adults. Their beaks are way to sharp. I always use tubs or bowls to feed my birds. The pecking to eat food is too much as they grow up. It is not aggression, just the way they eat.

Good luck with your flock and welcome to ours!

 

[vtester]

We have tried everything to make them friendlier. They have been held and petted since they were tiny and still seem to resist human contact. I am definitely not going to give up on them, I may just need to remind them(over and over) who is the boss in this flock! Lol Thanks TwoCrows!

 

[TwoCrows]

We have tried everything to make them friendlier. They have been held and petted since they were tiny and still seem to resist human contact. I am definitely not going to give up on them, I may just need to remind them(over and over) who is the boss in this flock! Lol Thanks TwoCrows!

Chicks don't like to be held or pet. But they do enjoy getting on your lap. And after a few months of sitting with you, they will get more friendly as time goes on to where you can handle them and pick them up without them freaking out. LOL I sit with my birds every day. They have become so friendly and sweet from just sitting with them daily. Keep up with it and they will come around!

 

[vtester]

I will definitely try this! I have never had problems like this before.. My others are wonderful!

 

[gander007]