Single hen

[westleigh]

Hi All,i have had chickens for 6 odd years now and have not had this problem before ruby my rhode island red keeps pecking my legs when i go in the run to feed them corn in the afternoon,i have had her since october she started it about 2 months ago,as she is a big bird she is doing quite abit of damage to my old granny legs,i may add this is through jeans, now i am begining to wonder if i will be able to go in the run in the summer in a skirt on,has anyone out there got any idea's how i can stop her as its really painfull

[Chickvic]

You could always put your hand over her back and force her to 'submit' to you, she'll learn that you are the cockeral and hopefully it will stop. I don't know if someone else sprayed water at the offender, maybe that will work. Hope you find something that does the trick.

[chelsea]

legwarmers? shin pads? or those things cricketer's wear?

 

never heard of that problem before.

[westleigh]

Thanks Chelsea but not the sort of advice i was looking for

[cordelia]

my rhode island reds did this too...until they laid.....

 

I can only suggest taking their very favourite treat to ward her off...

 

i used to take a broom to keep mine off me, but they became enraged at the sight of it... LOL...so I just had to run....

 

now they are in lay they are fine......so far :0

 

hope things get better...but try some sweetcorn in your hand ready to throw down for her....

[likeastar--x]

Spray water at her when she comes to peck you.

[Cooks]

I am sorry I dont have any advice but just wanted to say hi as I am from your neck of the woods.

[Egluntyne]

Pick her up and cuddle her for a few days...it may disarm her sufficiently that she will stop.

 

I would take Chelsea's tip and wear something protective on your legs till you have got it sorted.

[LJ's Chooks]

does it depend on the colour of what you are wearing... someone a while ago said that she would always be attacked when she was wearing a particular colour... i think it was yellow????

[*mummy_hen*]

Just be thankful you don't have geese!! My mum and dad had geese and my poor dad couldn't go out in the garden without a broom for defence!! Lol!

 

Good luck getting it sorted!!

[westleigh]

I am sorry I dont have any advice but just wanted to say hi as I am from your neck of the woods.

Hi cookiemonster,pleased you said hello,we also have a yorkshire terrier so that two things in common

[westleigh]

Thanks to all the great advice,i think i will try the water opt and see how i get on,i dont think she is being really bad just that she cant wait for me to throw the corn,ruby is such a big girl and thats why it hurts so much. fingers crossed with the water treatment

[Stevie]

I am sorry I dont have any advice but just wanted to say hi as I am from your neck of the woods.

 

and me!!!

 

One of mine pecks my legs too when she wants corn-impatient little thing!

[westleigh]

Oh wow lots of us chicken people in cambridge then,we live just outside of cambridge having lived in the city for 40 odd years

[Cooks]

I am sorry I dont have any advice but just wanted to say hi as I am from your neck of the woods.

Hi cookiemonster,pleased you said hello,we also have a yorkshire terrier so that two things in common

 

 

that's fantastic!, mine is 8 months old and a terror on two legs

 

If you ever want to meet up for a chat etc or need anything I can help with pm me I am local!

Edited February 23, 2009 by Guest

[chickenanne]

I agree that she's not doing it out of aggression or badness: if it's only when you're giving her corn etc I reckon it's more likely to be "come on, get a mvoe on, we're down here!" behaviour; she's just over-excited.

I would be inclined to go in wearing suitably thick trousers (two pairs?) without any treats occasionally; hopefully she's learned that you=not scary, so if she can now learn that you don't always bring corn then that might calm her down!

[westleigh]

I agree that she's not doing it out of aggression or badness: if it's only when you're giving her corn etc I reckon it's more likely to be "come on, get a mvoe on, we're down here!" behaviour; she's just over-excited.

I would be inclined to go in wearing suitably thick trousers (two pairs?) without any treats occasionally; hopefully she's learned that you=not scary, so if she can now learn that you don't always bring corn then that might calm her down!

yes i agree with what you have said i dont think ruby is a bad girl just over excited,she loves to follow me when i am out in the garden,she is so nosey i will just have to hope things settle down with her thanks