Why are my ISA Browns picking at me?

[City-Chick-10]

I have three seven-month-old ISA Brown hens that are my first chickens ever. They are allowed to free range in our backyard most days, which is mainly lawn with a couple small weedy-shrubs (I will be planting more in the spring for them). Every single time I go in our yard though they immediately run over and will peck at my feet and legs (or back/wherever if I am sitting on the lawn with my daughter). It kind of hurts! When I go inside they follow me up to the back door. I have stepped on a couple feet sometimes accidentally because they hang out around my feet while I’m trying to do things.
I hate that my one year old and I can’t hang out in our own backyard while they are out!

Is this normal for ISA Browns, or are they maybe deficient in something?? Their egg shells are strong and they have been laying one egg a day each since four months old.

I appreciate any help!

 

[Beau plus penny]

I have three seven-month-old ISA Brown hens that are my first chickens ever. They are allowed to free range in our backyard most days, which is mainly lawn with a couple small weedy-shrubs (I will be planting more in the spring for them). Every single time I go in our yard though they immediately run over and will peck at my feet and legs (or back/wherever if I am sitting on the lawn with my daughter). It kind of hurts! When I go inside they follow me up to the back door. I have stepped on a couple feet sometimes accidentally because they hang out around my feet while I’m trying to do things.
I hate that my one year old and I can’t hang out in our own backyard while they are out!

Is this normal for ISA Browns, or are they maybe deficient in something?? Their egg shells are strong and they have been laying one egg a day each since four months old.

I appreciate any help!

i would try picking them up and petting them my VERY affectionate speckled sussex does this to tell me she wants cuddles or pets

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

Like this:

It depends on the bird. I've raised RSLs (Red Sex Link) for years and never had a problem. But then I have my Noir Marans who's been doing that since she was a few days old and decided I was "hers." From what I've seen, it's an affectionate thing, not an aggressive thing. For my birds who do it, I "peck" them on their neck or back to get them to stop. For some of my hens, they did it less over time, but for hens like my girl, Sarah (in the video) who was very bonded to me, she never stopped.

A big thing, is don't ever reward this behavior. If you give them treats after them doing that, they'll connect that as a way to get treats, like my Lemon Cuckoo Orpington hen did. When they scratch, take your hand like it's a beak, and peck them on their back or on the back of their neck. (Don't ever peck their head!) Most people say to do this gently, and I agree especially when pecking their neck, but if you peck them a little hard on their back, don't worry, they can handle it (and might keep scratching you because they didn't get the point just quite yet).

On your one year old around them, even if they weren't doing this, I would always raise caution around them. A toddler is closer to their height, therefore their nice shiny eyes are closer to be pecked, and Isa Browns do have a sharper bite than most chickens. I'm not saying that your Isa Browns are terrifyingly aggressive, but with any chicken, they love shiny objects and kids eyes are shiny.

I hope this helps!