Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[fuzzi]

But this discussion was about pecking ME and I don’t have a lot of protective feathers in my hands.
Today Mr. Chips behaved beautifully, but Calypso put my entire thumb in her mouth and tried to yank it off my hand. I now see why they have no trouble swallowing mice whole - the tip of my thumb must have been well into her esophagus before I managed to pull back my arm.

And that's one of the reasons I like my bantams...

 

[no fly zone]

And that's one of the reasons I like my bantams...

When Mr. Bumble would try to kick me, he'd just bounce off. He never did grow spurs.

 

[Shadrach]

But this discussion was about pecking ME and I don’t have a lot of protective feathers in my hands.
Today Mr. Chips behaved beautifully, but Calypso put my entire thumb in her mouth and tried to yank it off my hand. I now see why they have no trouble swallowing mice whole - the tip of my thumb must have been well into her esophagus before I managed to pull back my arm.

Yes I know. Sorry, got distracted by the chicken part.
I do understand the problem. Perhaps I've been lucky. Sylph from the field group is the only one so far to cause any pain from pecking, she's had whole finger tips in her beak which hasn't hurt as much as her pointy beak!
Some of her enthusiasm I've put down to be lowest in rank and anxious about getting her fair share, or more. She's been last to eat since she hatched. She's got past the panic now. She knows if she gets blocked out of the treat feeding I'll make sure she'll get her share, sometimes by saving some and feeding her separately.
I don't know what to suggest about grabbing the web between thumb and forefinger; never happened to me. If the piece of food is in the correct place when feeding with the closed fist method (piece held in the fold of the forefinger) a hit at the web is rather a major misjudgement on the chickens part, on my hand a good inch from target; have you thought of taking the offender to an optician.
What I can suggest on the topic of sharp pointy beaks is to have a look at the beak checking for rough patches close to the tip and filing them smooth.
They should get this done themselves when they wipe their beaks, but of course, if they're wiping their beaks on a trouser leg it could take some time.
I've used the "that's painful" reaction in the past when testing peck strengths and it's worked.

 

[RoyalChick]

Yes I know. Sorry, got distracted by the chicken part.
I do understand the problem. Perhaps I've been lucky. Sylph from the field group is the only one so far to cause any pain from pecking, she's had whole finger tips in her beak which hasn't hurt as much as her pointy beak!
Some of her enthusiasm I've put down to be lowest in rank and anxious about getting her fair share, or more. She's been last to eat since she hatched. She's got past the panic now. She knows if she gets blocked out of the treat feeding I'll make sure she'll get her share, sometimes by saving some and feeding her separately.
I don't know what to suggest about grabbing the web between thumb and forefinger; never happened to me. If the piece of food is in the correct place when feeding with the closed fist method (piece held in the fold of the forefinger) a hit at the web is rather a major misjudgement on the chickens part, on my hand a good inch from target; have you thought of taking the offender to an optician.
What I can suggest on the topic of sharp pointy beaks is to have a look at the beak checking for rough patches close to the tip and filing them smooth.
They should get this done themselves when they wipe their beaks, but of course, if they're wiping their beaks on a trouser leg it could take some time.
I've used the "that's painful" reaction in the past when testing peck strengths and it's worked.

I will look at beaks but I think they are OK. They all use the concrete blocks that hold up the Chicken Palace as beak files.
The thumb web thing is painful. My hand is probably smaller than yours, but still most chickens have no issue just taking the seeds and leaving my hand alone. But there is always one or two. I think it is over enthusiasm rather than poor aim or poor eyesight. Some of mine behave as if they have not had food in days and may never see food again. This in spite of them having large very full crops after a day out and about (not to mention the freely available feed and the bowls of mash I bring them). There are just some things - blueberries being one - that at some of them into a complete frenzy.
Mr. Chips really isn’t the only culprit - but I anticipate him being the one that could inflict the most damage.

 

[BDutch]

And that's one of the reasons I like my bantams...

Ditto! I was thinking the same.

Bantam tax. Preening time.

 

[BDutch]

have you thought of taking the offender to an optician.

Like this
Photo stolen from this weeks
Open Contest BYC Poultry Caption Contest11-14-25 Pic by NorthwoodsChick

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Yes I know. Sorry, got distracted by the chicken part.
I do understand the problem. Perhaps I've been lucky. Sylph from the field group is the only one so far to cause any pain from pecking, she's had whole finger tips in her beak which hasn't hurt as much as her pointy beak!
Some of her enthusiasm I've put down to be lowest in rank and anxious about getting her fair share, or more. She's been last to eat since she hatched. She's got past the panic now. She knows if she gets blocked out of the treat feeding I'll make sure she'll get her share, sometimes by saving some and feeding her separately.
I don't know what to suggest about grabbing the web between thumb and forefinger; never happened to me. If the piece of food is in the correct place when feeding with the closed fist method (piece held in the fold of the forefinger) a hit at the web is rather a major misjudgement on the chickens part, on my hand a good inch from target; have you thought of taking the offender to an optician.
What I can suggest on the topic of sharp pointy beaks is to have a look at the beak checking for rough patches close to the tip and filing them smooth.
They should get this done themselves when they wipe their beaks, but of course, if they're wiping their beaks on a trouser leg it could take some time.
I've used the "that's painful" reaction in the past when testing peck strengths and it's worked.

I haven’t seen a mention here of “pecking” back. I used to do it on their heads but decided that that might be overkill. Now I peck the necks. It feels like a “hey, I’ve got feelings too, and I don’t like that,” which feels like something a flockmember might “say.”

Any thoughts?

 

[fuzzi]

I will look at beaks but I think they are OK. They all use the concrete blocks that hold up the Chicken Palace as beak files.
The thumb web thing is painful. My hand is probably smaller than yours, but still most chickens have no issue just taking the seeds and leaving my hand alone. But there is always one or two. I think it is over enthusiasm rather than poor aim or poor eyesight. Some of mine behave as if they have not had food in days and may never see food again. This in spite of them having large very full crops after a day out and about (not to mention the freely available feed and the bowls of mash I bring them). There are just some things - blueberries being one - that at some of them into a complete frenzy.
Mr. Chips really isn’t the only culprit - but I anticipate him being the one that could inflict the most damage.
View attachment 4253281

Gorgeous.

 

[NightingaleJen]

@Shadrach Treacle is so handsome!

So far as the biting bird discussion, for whatever reason I've been blessed on that front. Sometimes they 'peck' somewhat aggressively if I offer food from the palm of my hand, but that's not intentional.

For what it's worth, every one of my Buckeyes and Buckeye crosses are the DAINTIEST treat takers on earth. Every last one! It's rather charming, especially considering they tend to be among the lead hens in the flock (one, Affogato, has the nickname "Mob Wife", and her much smaller sister has sent much bigger birds running). They could eat cucumber sandwiches and sip tea with the snobbiest among us.

 

[tranquiliti]

View attachment 4253281

Exquisite.