Pecking the hand that feeds them!

[naturemom]

2 of my chicks have gotten aggressive recently. It started with a peck here and there, and now I can't even reach into their box to get their feeder out to clean and fill it without getting pecked! We've been handling them all along, but maybe not enough, since I'm not comfortable taking them out with a one-year-old hanging around and no other adult (which is most of the time). It used to be just one chick that did it (the one I'm sure is a roo), but now the other one that shares the box has started and is even worse! I think she(?) learned it from him. I have 2 other chicks in another box, and they never peck me. I was planning to introduce them to each other soon, but I don't want the other 2 to start pecking me! How should I handle this?

 

[Queen of the Lilliputians]

This is what I do when they peck me:

I give them a little 'peck' back with my finger. Sometimes it takes a couple of times to get my message across, but so far so good. I had posted a similar question here a few weeks ago because I was having a problem with one of my girls. She was 2 weeks, and I was giving everybody treats. Well, the treats had run out, but she WOULD NOT stop pecking at my hand! Ok, I was willing to put up with one peck, since I figure it is the equivalent of my dog licking my hand to make sure I don't have any more treat there

, but after that ARG!

Anyway, it's worked so far for me. Also, with the chick I think is a roo I make a point of picking him up a lot, and giving him an occasional 'unwarranted' peck when he's being too pushy (LOL! He's the first guy to check everything out, and first to crowd around my feet so I guess it hasn't hurt our relationship any). I don't really like it since he's pretty sweet, but I'm trying to maintain order with my group, and to establish myself as head roo.

Hope that helps.

-Meghan

 

[chrissieg]

I've just given my 2 week old chicks a blast of air through a drinking straw and they don't much like it. It may work, at least your hands will be free!

I guess you need lots of suggestions!

 

[naturemom]

I just started giving them a "peck" with my finger, and it seems to be helping already. I might have to try the drinking straw idea, too. That might work well when I'm trying to juggle the screen on top of the box, the feeder, and the baby all at the same time. Then I'd only need 3 hands instead of 4! Of course, the baby would likely grab the straw and put it in her mouth, but it's certainly worth a try. Thanks!