Patridge bantam chicken poorly foot?

[PurpleTree]

One of my girls, Squeak, has become really pecky over the last week or so, not towards the other two chooks, but towards my kids. Last week she pecked my youngest son (20 months old) on the thumb while he was just stood doing nothing, she actually made it bleed. Today she pecked my older son (4 years) again while he was stood doing nothing. I don't know if she thinks they are holding something to eat - last week I did allow them both to feed some corn to the girls. She's also started pecking at my wellies, and she does try and peck my hand if I go to stroke her.

 

Has anyone else had a problem like this? Is there anything I can do? I don't want to have to keep the kids indoors every time the chickens are out.

[Christian]

They have very good memories when it comes to food, so try using a treat bowl to give them extras and avoid hand feeding. They will soon forget about pecking fingers.

[PurpleTree]

Usually I do use a treat bowl. We've only hand fed them once when I was trying to get Bubble close enough to pick up (she was the only one I hadn't held yet). The other two aren't doing it though.

[jools+6]

def the treat bowl !! though freckles have been pecked at our house many a time !!! and my two boys tend to be covered in leftovers most of the time so clean hands are a bonus

[Dinkychick]

I have one that just pecks everything, fingers, toggles, shiney things on trousers, eyelets on shoes, wellies, my friends engagement ring! Shes just a greedy girl...either that or really evil

[Hen Watch]

I am assuming your chooks are still new/young. They will settle down. At first my lot pecked everything that could possibly be food, my fingers when I opened the run, stitching on my shoes and jeans, toenails, watch etc. etc.

 

After a few months they realised what was and wasn't food. I do have a treat bowl too which they recognise which also helps. Now my lot never peck, they just can't be bothered.

 

I'm sure yours will grow out of it as mine did. But in the meantime, don't let your children get down to eye level with the chooks. My lot will very occasionally peck the odd mole on my skin thinking it is food so make sure the children don't crouch down to them at eye level.

[madchickenlady]

My girls are quite pecky, but it rarely hurts. I did get chased up the garden though when I went out in flip flops in the summer and bright nail varnish My girls try to peer at the palm of my hands whenever I go near, just in case I've got some raisins stashed!