Pullet started pecking

[Ryguy3684]

My 18 week, BO pullet, has started pecking my wife and I. She was always the sweetest, lap chicken. Wattles and comb are turning red, so I think she's getting close to laying, if that makes a difference. She doesn't attack us, yet continues to sit in our laps. Yet, when we pet her, she pecks hard. We thump her on the top of the head, with index fingers, to show her we're still top of the pecking order. From what we can tell, she's top hen, maybe #2. The only bird obviously more dominant is our rooster. What would make a hen start doing this all of the sudden? Will she calm down once she starts laying?

 

[chickenlittle21]

My 18 week, BO pullet, has started pecking my wife and I. She was always the sweetest, lap chicken. Wattles and comb are turning red, so I think she's getting close to laying, if that makes a difference. She doesn't attack us, yet continues to sit in our laps. Yet, when we pet her, she pecks hard. We thump her on the top of the head, with index fingers, to show her we're still top of the pecking order. From what we can tell, she's top hen, maybe #2. The only bird obviously more dominant is our rooster. What would make a hen start doing this all of the sudden? Will she calm down once she starts laying?

I have had some of my chickens start doing that around that age. I call it the biting stage. She will probably stop pecking you soon but be glad shes not a roo (my sweetheart rooster, Thunder, used to bite me hard when I tried to pet him when he was around 14 weeks, he fortunately doesn't do it anymore )

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Females shouldn't be pecking you. A male I guess I can understand (still shouldnt, but that's a bit different I guess) but females shouldn't

 

[Buckeye Amy]

She's maturing and some birds don't want to be petted. It doesn't mean they won't be friendly, they just need their space.

 

[aart]

We thump her on the top of the head, with index fingers

Is that working?
If not, I'd toss her off your lap.


Have had this happen several times, mostly with hand fed chicks often as they come of age and get spunky. It's pretty easily curbed with calm and deliberate determination.

I peck them back, on the head or anywhere I can reach, with the tips of thumb and first 2 fingers, as hard and fast as many times as I can before they get away. Well, not hard enough to hurt them, just startle them and let them you mean business. That's what another chicken would do, so they understand that kind of communication.

If that doesn't work after a couple applications, I hold them down to the ground with my hand on their back until they submit....again firmly enough to get the job done but not hurt them....add a few finger pecks and/or tug on the feathers on the back of their neck.

 

[MrsKroo]

My 18 week, BO pullet, has started pecking my wife and I. She was always the sweetest, lap chicken. Wattles and comb are turning red, so I think she's getting close to laying, if that makes a difference. She doesn't attack us, yet continues to sit in our laps. Yet, when we pet her, she pecks hard. We thump her on the top of the head, with index fingers,

My 18 week old BO pullet is also pecking me. She used to be the sweetest and now if I try to pet her or even get water in their watering can , she comes at me with a hurtful peck.
Did your pullet stopped pecking?

 

[Ryguy3684]

My 18 week old BO pullet is also pecking me. She used to be the sweetest and now if I try to pet her or even get water in their watering can , she comes at me with a hurtful peck.
Did your pullet stopped pecking?

She did stop. Shortly after starting to lay, so went back to being the nicest bird around. She's even back to roosting on my shoulder whenever I'm in the run. Good luck.