Pecking pekins

[Cymro05]

I’ve got 4 Pekin hens that had a cuckoo rooster with them but unfortunately in the autumn he passed away. Following this two hens turned rather nasty and would peck at my hands whenever i try to feed them or handle them. Now I’ve got a new mixed colour rooster they are still aggressive but they have got better but still more aggressive than I’d like. What would be the best way to deter this behaviour?

 

[thecatumbrella]

Stop hand feeding and handling them (unless you need to for health reasons). If they can't perform the behavior, they'll hopefully forget about it.

If they're coming for you when you're minding your own business, that's a different story. Naughty birds that take cheap shots at my hands get picked up and gently held like a football until they calm down. To clarify, this is not a cuddle. Business hold only. No one likes being picked up, so they get the message pretty quickly. This also gives me a chance to look them over for health issues.

 

[nuthatched]

Peck them back with your hand.

 

[Cymro05]

Stop hand feeding and handling them (unless you need to for health reasons). If they can't perform the behavior, they'll hopefully forget about it.

If they're coming for you when you're minding your own business, that's a different story. Naughty birds that take cheap shots at my hands get picked up and gently held like a football until they calm down. To clarify, this is not a cuddle. Business hold only. No one likes being picked up, so they get the message pretty quickly. This also gives me a chance to look them over for health issues.

Thank you I’ve never hand fed them because I was told not too. I shall try picking them up and just holding them from now on. Thank you