My flock is 4 1/2 months old. I normally feed them every evening. The last week one of my hens started pecking my feet. Now more hens and a rooster have started. What can I do to make them stop besides popping them in the head. Also do you think it might be my red toenails they are after or do you think they may just be hungry?
Well - red/bright toenails is a no-no, but mine will pick at blue jeans, freckles/moles on bare legs, certain shoes - they like to investigate certain materials and things more than others. Avoid looking like a patch of strawberries though for sure
I wear shoes to the coop just because of this! Ugh. The most important advice i ever give anyone with chickens is this: Never, I repeat, never fall down in the coop or run. My girls have deemed themselves my personal groomer. They peck at every speck of dirt, freckle or mole on every inch of my being. I think it is partially a curiosity thing and since they don't have hands, they use the only tool they have. That, and freckles, moles and dirt all could be a raisin in disguise. I can hear your ladies now, hey look, cherry toe-ma-toes!!!
My lowest peck order hen used to peck me when I was outside with her. I thought she doesn't have anyone to peck so she was trying to be higher peck order than me??? BUT I'm her owner!!! So I picked her up and said "NO"!!!! She pecked me a few times after that, too. But each time I did same thing to her and now she won't peck me.
