Why is my chicken pecking me?

[Athenaeum]

Hi, me again! This time, I'm here asking for advice or possible reasons for why my 13 week old Easter Egger mix chicken is pecking me? Like, straight up, Duckie (full name is Duck-Duck-Goose) will either bite down on my pant legs and pull with all her might or sometimes add in some kicks too. Mind you, she also is one of my chickens that will also demand "uppies" based on how she calms down when held and given attention.

Are we sure she's female? No. Kinda. After all, her brother Luke (formerly Leia) is already showing rooster signs and looks almost exactly like his dad yet has his mom's temperament, however, he did grow faster than any of his siblings have been.

So.... yeah. Any ideas why Duckie is being like this?

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Hi, me again! This time, I'm here asking for advice or possible reasons for why my 13 week old Easter Egger mix chicken is pecking me? Like, straight up, Duckie (full name is Duck-Duck-Goose) will either bite down on my pant legs and pull with all her might or sometimes add in some kicks too. Mind you, she also is one of my chickens that will also demand "uppies" based on how she calms down when held and given attention.

Are we sure she's female? No. Kinda. After all, her brother Luke (formerly Leia) is already showing rooster signs and looks almost exactly like his dad yet has his mom's temperament, however, he did grow faster than any of his siblings have been.

So.... yeah. Any ideas why Duckie is being like this?

Do these behaviors generally result in “uppies”?

If so, I think you’ve been trained by a chicken!

 

[Athenaeum]

Do these behaviors generally result in “uppies”?

If so, I think you’ve been trained by a chicken!

...You know what, fair. My husband said the same thing, honestly. She also pecks me when she wants down.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

...You know what, fair. My husband said the same thing, honestly. She also pecks me when she wants down.

It’s really hard retraining an animal (or a fellow human) to stop using a giant Looney Tunes sledgehammer to get your attention, when they’ve found how well it works!

I guess, if this is what’s going on: come up with a reaction you can use every time and in every situation when she does this. Maybe something like quickly scoop her up and lightly toss her a yard away. That’s the extinction part.

Then’s the hard part: finding something you DO want her to do. Maybe a certain cluck, or an angle of her head when she looks at you. Whenever she does this, pat your lap or something that you want to use as a signal that you’re inviting her to hop up. Once she stops with the biting and starts communicating with you by voice or posture, you can back off rewarding her with uppies every time. But say something or pet her or whatever to acknowledge her gesture.

Good luck! Hope this helps

 

[Athenaeum]

It’s really hard retraining an animal (or a fellow human) to stop using a giant Looney Tunes sledgehammer to get your attention, when they’ve found how well it works!

View attachment 4196186
I guess, if this is what’s going on: come up with a reaction you can use every time and in every situation when she does this. Maybe something like quickly scoop her up and lightly toss her a yard away. That’s the extinction part.

Then’s the hard part: finding something you DO want her to do. Maybe a certain cluck, or an angle of her head when she looks at you. Whenever she does this, pat your lap or something that you want to use as a signal that you’re inviting her to hop up. Once she stops with the biting and starts communicating with you by voice or posture, you can back off rewarding her with uppies every time. But say something or pet her or whatever to acknowledge her gesture.

Good luck! Hope this helps

I'll keep you updated on how it helps!

I'll be honest, she is a bit spoiled? She was one of the three we had to nurse a bit, and that meant she got handled a lot and given a lot of affection to make up for having to cause bits of pain to help her (splayed leg and curled toes).

I think I might try to train her to do a cluck or to just run up to me without the pecking? She likes to curl around my legs, but that's her sign for "Food! Food!"

 

[Squawkers]

Hi, me again! This time, I'm here asking for advice or possible reasons for why my 13 week old Easter Egger mix chicken is pecking me? Like, straight up, Duckie (full name is Duck-Duck-Goose) will either bite down on my pant legs and pull with all her might or sometimes add in some kicks too. Mind you, she also is one of my chickens that will also demand "uppies" based on how she calms down when held and given attention.

Are we sure she's female? No. Kinda. After all, her brother Luke (formerly Leia) is already showing rooster signs and looks almost exactly like his dad yet has his mom's temperament, however, he did grow faster than any of his siblings have been.

So.... yeah. Any ideas why Duckie is being like this?

Maybe post a picture to rule out being a possible cockerel

 

[The Moonshiner]

You have a pic?
Sounds more like a young cockerel's behavior. Knowing the true sex may make a difference in the answers you get.

 

[Squawkers]

Sounds more like a young cockerel's behavior.

My thoughts exactly

 

[Athenaeum]

You have a pic?
Sounds more like a young cockerel's behavior. Knowing the true sex may make a difference in the answers you get.

I do, but they're from two weeks ago. I can share a picture tomorrow, when I go out to them tomorrow. Because she is getting a red comb, but her brother has had a red comb for a long while?