Should you not pet them when they squat??

[Frazzemrat1]

Oh i hated that part! I accidentally booted so many hens before my rooster boy become a rooster man. I did do the ruffle and tail tug to get some peace while i waited, but boy did i feel used.

So used... My girls squat for my kids along with me, and I don't have the heart to tell my 15 yr old son that his beloved chickens are asking him to give them a tail tickle to relieve hormones.

 

[Chickassan]

Oh no don't tell him, wish i didn't know and I'm 43.

So used... My girls squat for my kids along with me, and I don't have the heart to tell my 15 yr old son that his beloved chickens are asking him to give them a tail tickle to relieve hormones.

 

[HoopyFrood]

I'll give our hens pets when they're wandering around and when they submit. I, too, like having them used to submitting when I stand over them just in case I need to pick them up. And they get the most pets when the hop up on us for "lap time." They'll happily snooze on a leg for 5-10 minutes.

As far as being pecked goes, if one is really being aggressive, we have found poking them is the most effective response. Not hard, just a quick jabbing tap in the neck or the ribs. They don't like that. Only a couple of times has one gotten so aggressive (chasing/pecking the one on the "bottom" in an aggressive manner) was warranted a swat on the beak. But that's only happened a couple of times. In general we try not to interfere with the pecking order much. But (there is no rooster) we are on the top of it. Granted these are NOT aggressive breeds (barred rock, RIR) so your mileage may vary.