My Welsummer hen is pecking me

[Meri Maura]

My Welsummer hen, Charlotte, has lately been pecking me hard to pick her up and pet her. I try to push her away and pet her when she isn't pecking, but it's not working. Any thoughts?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Have you tried pecking her back when she comes over and pecks you first?

 

[WallacetheKhakiCampbell]

My barred rock pecks me when I try to pick her up or just put my hand in front of her. Its not hard or anything she's just giving me a little "get back!". But I just leave my hand in front of her or even tap her on the beak every time. I don't know if its making it worse or better but something to try . If I were you I would try to tire her out of it and show her you don't care. Put on a protective glove and just let her peck her heart out. I would assume after a bit she will realize it doesn't do a thing!

 

[Meri Maura]

yeah...one time I KNEW she was at my feet but didn't want to hold her right then, and she JUMPED up to peck me through my jeans. Usually she just hammers on my leg, but sometimes jumps, pecks, and pulls back.

 

[Meri Maura]

Have you tried pecking her back when she comes over and pecks you first?

I wuv her and I dont wanna make her not wike meeee

 

[Meri Maura]

That's the most SPOILED chicken ive ever had

 

[rosemarythyme]

I wuv her and I dont wanna make her not wike meeee

She's hardly going to dislike you (after all, you are the bearer of food). But chickens speak chicken, and pecking her back tells her, "Hey, stop that" in a way that she understands.

 

[WallacetheKhakiCampbell]

She's hardly going to dislike you (after all, you are the bearer of food).

Indeed! Unfortunately, my flock got infected with poultry lice . Ive given them two treatments of elector PSP so far and they are doing fine now. I was worried that after an hour or two of snatching them from their roosting bars, flipping them upside down, drenching their vent area and under their wings with smelly water stuff (E PSP), then rubbing it down onto the skin, they would be forever fearful of me. But the next day, one shake of the corn bag and they all came flying in. hard to beat cracked corn