Socializing/ excessive pecking

[Haylea2495]

I have 4 chickens and 1 rooster. They are only 2 months old. I have food and water in the area that they are in. Every time I go in, one of the chickens (Sunny), continues to peck at me. At first I thought it was because she wanted food but even when I have food in there she continues to do so. It got to the point that she broke the skin on my leg. What is causing this and how do I stop her from doing it?

What ways have y'all done to make your chickens want to be around you and let you pick him/her up?

**the picture is Sunny

 

[igorsMistress]

When my chickens pecked me like that I just shooed them away like a fly. They give an exploratory peck here and there still but nothing more.

I bought my flocks love with treats. Mealworms and grubs, raisins, whatever. Usually hand fed as I sat on the floor or the ground with them starting as tiny chicks. Getting down on their level regularly helped a lot. Now they come join me at the picnic table even if I don't have treats. They'll hang out, groom me a bit and get their wattles scratched a bit. I don't hold them unless they need to be held for care, but one likes to sit on my shoulder.

 

[lazy gardener]

Be sure you don't have bare legs. If Sonny pecks you, peck him back (with your fingers). Chase him a bit. Don't allow the pecking to continue. I believe Sonny is a boy, based on comb development. How does his comb compare to the combs of your other chicks? Are they all the same breed?

 

[Chickiemom25]

she is trying to establish the pecking order and you are not at the top. The roo probably hasn't started behaving like a roo yet so she is. I agree shoo her away. Only good behavior gets rewarded.

 

[Haylea2495]

Be sure you don't have bare legs. If Sonny pecks you, peck him back (with your fingers). Chase him a bit. Don't allow the pecking to continue. I believe Sonny is a boy, based on comb development. How does his comb compare to the combs of your other chicks? Are they all the same breed?

We have a variety of breeds. We were told by the person we got our chickens from that Sunny is a hen. The rest of my chickens (same age) don't really have a comb yet

 

[Haylea2495]

she is trying to establish the pecking order and you are not at the top. The roo probably hasn't started behaving like a roo yet so she is. I agree shoo her away. Only good behavior gets rewarded.

How do I tell the pecking order with chickens? What is the best way to establish that I am above her? I shooed her away and then she kept coming back and pecked me again.

 

[Chickassan]

Yeah I bought my chicken love with peanuts and raisins, im not proud of it but that's how it happened. Sunny has tasted human flesh, you will be eaten soon. Tell your loved ones how much you care and take care of your final expenses.Just kidding. .or am I? BTW is she pecking the same spot on you or is she sampling the buffet?

 

[Chickiemom25]

How do I tell the pecking order with chickens? What is the best way to establish that I am above her? I shooed her away and then she kept coming back and pecked me again.

You take control.. Sit down with the birds and some treats.. Let everyone else eat but Sunny. If Sunny pecks at you swat her away..... like make physical contact with her, not just waving the air. Have you watched your birds peck each other to show who is where in the order? watch as some birds hang back because they don't want to upset a higher ranking bird who will peck them. The top birds will get the treats first and the others wont upset the apple cart. Once you take your place at the top, they will respect you.

 

[Gibbie]

You take control.. Sit down with the birds and some treats.. Let everyone else eat but Sunny. If Sunny pecks at you swat her away..... like make physical contact with her, not just waving the air. Have you watched your birds peck each other to show who is where in the order? watch as some birds hang back because they don't want to upset a higher ranking bird who will peck them. The top birds will get the treats first and the others wont upset the apple cart. Once you take your place at the top, they will respect you.

I have one leghorn hen that is extremely aggressive these days and I had a rooster that seemed to be a bit confused that he was a rooster until this past week. Now he is pecking me when I come into the pen to give them food and water. I was thinking of placing these two outside the pen away from the others to hopefully get them to change their attitude and bit a bit more socialable with the other chickens. Not sure if this will work but suggestions are definitely welcome.

 

[lazy gardener]

I'm going to share a post written by Beekissed. It is geared toward roosters, but is appropriate for either gender, when the bird in question is showing human aggression.

I'm going to give you a clue on "rooster speak"....holding him down doesn't mean anything to him. If you'll watch how roosters interact between dominant ones and subordinate ones, there is rarely any, if ever, holding a bird down for a long time when there is an altercation. There is very quick flogging, gripping by the back of the head and flinging him away or getting him down and giving some savage pecking to the back of the head or neck. No holding him down and nothing else. That's a rooster on a hen maneuver, not rooster on rooster.

Because your rooster is attacking you, you are the subordinate in this picture. You are getting dominated by your bird simply because you are walking where a subordinate isn't supposed to be walking when a dominant is in the area. What you never see is a dominant rooster getting attacked by a subordinate rooster unless there is going to be a definite shift in power, at which time the sub will challenge the dom and win...or lose. So far you are losing and not even challenging.

If you want to win this battle, you must go on the offensive, not the defensive. He who attacks first, and is still claiming the area when the other guy leaves it, is the winner. Some people never have to go on the offensive because their movements in the coop are so decisive that they move and act like a dominant and a 2 ft. rooster is smart enough to recognize a dominant attitude and behavior...which is likely why he's never attacked your husband. Most men move more decisively than do women and children and they rarely step around a bird, but walk through them.

Carrying him around also doesn't mean anything to him...it just doesn't translate at all. His environment is that coop and run floor and that's where you need to speak to him, in a language he understands. Because they are quick on their feet and can evade you, you need a training tool like a long, limber, supple rod of some kind...cutting a nice switch from a shrub or tree that will lengthen your reach by 5 ft. really helps in this. Don't use a rake or broom because they are too clumsy and stiff and can put the hurts on the guy when you don't really mean to.

When you enter your coop, walk with decisive movements and walk directly towards your rooster. Move him away from the feeder and the rest of the flock and keep a slow, determined pressure on him until he leaves the coop. The stick will help you guide him. Then...wait patiently while he gets his bird mind around what just happened. He will try to come back in the coop...let him. When he gets a good bit into that coop, take your switch and give him a good smack on the fluffy feathers under his tail if you can aim it well. If you cannot, just smack the floor near him very hard and fast until he hops and runs and keep at it until he leaves the coop once again. Repeat this process until he is too wary to come back in the coop.

Feed your hens. When he tries to come to the feeder, you "attack" him with the switch...smack the wall by the pop door just as he tries to enter. If he makes it inside, pursue him with the stick either smacking the floor or tapping him on the back or the head until he leaves in a hurry. Make him stay outside while you sit there and enjoy watching your hens eat. Use the stick to keep him from the flock..just him. Don't worry about the hens running and getting excited when this is happening...they will get over it. This is for the future of your flock and your management of it.

When the hens have had a good tucker....leave the coop and let him come back in. Go out later and walk through that flock and use your legs to scatter birds if they get in your way...top roosters do not step to one side for any other bird in the flock. You shouldn't either. Take your stick and startle him with a smack on the floor next to him when he is least expecting it...make that bird jump and RUN. Make him so nervous around you that he is always looking over his shoulder and trying to get out of your way. THAT'S how he needs to be from now on in your lives together. Forget about pets or cuddles...this is a language and behavior he understands. You can hand feed him and such later...right now you need to establish that when you move, he moves...away. When you turn your back, he doesn't move towards you...ever.

Then test him...take your stick along, move around in the coop, bend over with your back turned to him, feed, water, etc....but keep one eye on that rooster. If he even makes one tiny step in your direction or in your "zone", go on the attack and run him clear on out of the coop. Then keep him out while everyone else is eating.

THAT'S how a dominant rooster treats a subordinate. They don't let them crow, mate or even eat in their space. If the subordinate knows his place and watches over his shoulder a lot, he may get to come and eat while the other rooster is at the feeder...but he doesn't ever relax if he knows what is good for him. At any given time the dominant will run him off of that feed and he knows it, so he eats with one eye toward the door. If he feels the need to crow, it's not usually where the dom can reach him...maybe across the yard.

If your rooster crows while you are there, move towards him and keep on the pressure until he stops. He doesn't get to crow while you are there. He can crow later...not while you are there.

It all sounds time consuming but it really isn't...shouldn't take more than minutes for each lesson and you can learn a lot as you go along. And it can be fun if you venture into it with the right attitude....this is rooster training that really works if you do it correctly. This can work on strange roosters, multiple roosters and even old roosters...they can all learn. You rule the coop...now act like it. Carrying is for babies...you have a full grown rooster on your hands, not a baby.