Questions About Pecking - Me, Not Each Other

[TC_BokBok]

My very first chicks will be arriving next week and on top of the mountain of other questions I've had that get answered here I have some pretty simple ones right now.

Do you feed your baby chicks treats from your hand? If so, does it hurt or pinch when they peck at it?
Once they've grown older do you dare give treats from your hand or would this be an invitation for injury?

I know these are simply and silly but I appreciate your help all the same.

 

[gryeyes]

I did not feed chicks treats from my hand at first, because they were too scared of my hand. I had a special treat dish for their treats. They knew that treat dish before long!

After they were a couple of weeks ago, I started holding the treats in my hand (except for the mealworms, those gross me out, moving in my hand!!!) and they took 'em right out of my hand, no problem.

The pecks from chicks are not hard at all.

My adult chickens still eat treats from my hands, and they haven't pecked very hard, either.

 

[lilbabychickens:)]

FEED THEM FROM YOUR HAND!
I fed my chicks right from my hand, and they now come running to my hands because of it. It doesn't hurt at all, in fact it feels kind of funny. As they're getting older, I'm still feeding them out of my hand. I think it imprints them and lets them know you are a happy place to be

 

[Pet Duck Boy]

When babies it doesn't really hurt, it tickles actually. By one month they start to make the occasional accididental pinch, it's just a pinch but it does sting just a tad. Now adult chickens? I dont have any adult chickens, but I have fed hungry full gorwn chickens mealworms before....and then, yes it DID hurt. Maybe it was just those chickens, or maybe they just had a burning passion for mealworms, but I did leave that farm with a few very small holes in my palm at that time. But it's good to do it, it helps them trust you and look forward to putting your hands out.

 

[seminolewind]

I've only had one chicken of mine ever peck me, out of about 30. She was 7 months old, and I wanted to hold her, and she bit my arm and would not let go! That hurt, but it's unusual, she never did it again.

 

[MN Chicken]

I agree, it doesn't hurt at all, and mine love hand feeding. The only thing that hurts is when my BO and my Polish chick go after my hand freckles.

 

[Pet Duck Boy]

Quote:
If your saying it doesn't hurt with adult chickens, then maybe I'm just a wimp? lol

 

[MN Chicken]

Quote:
If your saying it doesn't hurt with adult chickens, then maybe I'm just a wimp? lol

I was talking strictly chicks. On a side note, I was attacked by a goose at a plantation in south carolina last year, which left a huge bruise and tore muscle...

 

[Red]

The only adult chicken to ever hurt me is Tilly who, being the boss of the flock, thinks she can do whatever she wants...sadly this sometimes includes pecking my arms and legs! She doesn't do it in an aggressive way, more of a curious 'are there treats there?' way and, although i wouldn't say it hurts too bad, she has left bruises! I always feed my adult chooks from my hand, and they are all perfectly lovely with it all.

I've only ever been pecked and hurt by a chick once, and that was because he thought my eye looked interesting and pecked my eye!!!

But no, other than that i've never been hurt by them, and it's not something to be scared of

 

[redrocketrooster]

After a month they hurt you by pecking but keeping the treats in your palm and your hand flat is a good way to avoid being pinched.
There are some REALLY stupid chickens who aren't even trying to grab the treats accurately, I just don't hand feed those twits!

They aren't like parrots or dogs so don't worry about being in searing pain. You'll live and most likely you'll forget about it before dinner.