Valkyrie Posted February 2, 2010 Share Posted February 2, 2010 Squirt has become quite spiteful just recently. The other day she went for my leg and pecked at me, so I held her down and hoped she would think I was top rooster. Since then she's only pecked DD. This evening my hand has been pecked 6 times and I now have 3 bruises that look like those blood blisters (one has just started oozing a little blood) and one is more like a graze. Held her down again, but it obviously didn't work before. Anybody got ideas - I'll be blowed if I spray myself with anti-peck - will get me lots of funny looks when I go shopping. She used to be such a funny little thing following me around all the time. Oh and she has been in the sin bin a little while ago for chasing and pecking the little ones - but she doesn't seem to do it as much now (apart from the odd chasing moment without pecking) - she's just pecking us instead. She has been warned that she will be keeping her brother company if she doesn't snap out of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted February 2, 2010 Share Posted February 2, 2010 Could you errrrrr cuddle her for an hour Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted February 2, 2010 Author Share Posted February 2, 2010 Erin tried that too - much to Squirt's disgust, but she's still being pecked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madchickenlady Posted February 2, 2010 Share Posted February 2, 2010 Is she being bullied? One of mine became quite aggressive because the others were giving her a hard time. She was on high alert all the time, and had obviously learnt to get her pecks in first! I continued to stroke her, and distracted her with treats so that she wouldn't peck. It only really settled down when the pecking order was established and she stopped being bullied. She can still be a grumpy madam, and we have nicknamed her ASBO chicken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted February 2, 2010 Share Posted February 2, 2010 Can you do a 2 person approach, where one is "Bait" and the other is standing by with a water pistol to Squirt Squirt so to speak when her pecking happens. I can't believe that she's badly behaved though, she was on best behaviour on Sunday when her Aunty Debs visited Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suebee Posted February 2, 2010 Share Posted February 2, 2010 I've got one pecky girl. I Think she took a slight tumble in the pecking order during the snowy weather, when the top hen teamed up with one of the lowly girls, to go skiing. Pecky madam doesn't like snow, and stayed in. I reckon lowly girl effectively usurped her and she's feeling a bit resentful, and so takes it out on us. I suppose it depends how bad a pecker your girl is, but I found meeting her peck with a push, either with my leg or hand (whichever was being pecked) seemed to work. The timing has to be right, so that she associates pecking with being pushed away, and learns that pecking at people isn't particularly pleasant for her. I initially tried the mock cockrel act. She merely shook herself afterwards, then came back to have a peck at me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted February 2, 2010 Share Posted February 2, 2010 Is it worth trying a bumper bit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted February 2, 2010 Author Share Posted February 2, 2010 Bumper bit? Rubber band with those metal tags you get in freezer bags if she does me again! But I agree it's something that may have to be done. Yes she was Miss Perfect with Debs. It's mainly us humans getting the rough treatment. "Ooops, word censored!"ody is bullying her and she seems to be rising up the ranks. She did get a nubbin from Apache though a couple of days ago (mostly she just makes a sharpish movement and never connects - but everyone else dodges in time because her sharpish movement is really quite slow ). Apache seems to be back to top rank, followed by Sioux. Then it was Squirt and Tipsy has always been too bonkers to bother with. Tipsy is more or less near the bottom with Kitty. Skye can take them all on, but seems happy with the fat girls arrangement. Squirt's definitely been quite jealous of the newbies, but takes it out on us. Although she also chases pigeons and anything else that moves at the moment. A very frustrated stroppy madam for sure. She's still on holiday from egg laying so perhaps once she starts up again she might be a little more subdued. @ the skiers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 3, 2010 Share Posted February 3, 2010 Yes she was Miss Perfect with Debs. It's mainly us humans getting the rough treatment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted February 3, 2010 Share Posted February 3, 2010 Yes she was Miss Perfect with Debs. It's mainly us humans getting the rough treatment. I know Egluntyne Oi Koojie, whatcha trying to say Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickvic Posted February 3, 2010 Share Posted February 3, 2010 Yes she was Miss Perfect with Debs. It's mainly us humans getting the rough treatment. I know Egluntyne Oi Koojie, whatcha trying to say I noticed that too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted February 3, 2010 Author Share Posted February 3, 2010 Er - Space Chick is out of this world. Cough splutter - didn't spot that one. Well the stroppy madam (not Debs) has been a lady today. She's let Erin stroke her and not one peck. I've watched her this morning from the bedroom window and there was Mini and Skye happily pecking around with Squirt all together. Sioux, Tipsy and Mercedes have been strolling around together (Patch in the nest box), and Kitty just doing her own thing as usual. I hope this evening's tea time will be less painful - for me that is! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted February 4, 2010 Author Share Posted February 4, 2010 And she's pecked me again this morning while doing the food. So I played the boy bit again and she's gone to the back in a sulk. It's not as if she can't see the food and made an honest mistake - it's puffed up neck feathers and a strike to the back of the hand - think she likes pulling my skin. So I'm going to look for bumper bits to stop her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted February 4, 2010 Share Posted February 4, 2010 She's definately challenging you if she's puffing up her neck feathers. Little madam. Perhaps she'll crow soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted February 4, 2010 Share Posted February 4, 2010 How about throwing some mixed corn in to distract her whilst you sort out the food & water? Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted February 4, 2010 Author Share Posted February 4, 2010 She was brought in this afternoon, but she doesn't relax like the other girls do. She crouched half heartedly - but after I stopped her climbing up me to get a bit better height - no way young lady! I then cleaned her feet and vaselined them after the hugging/stroking session and she was fine - especially as she found sultanas on the top. Erin thinks she is defending the food territory. She will guard the door of the run while corn is thrown over their heads. But the puffed up neck job was outside this morning and there were other feeding stations around. She puffed her neck up and jumped at me the other evening when I put them to bed with food, but Erin put them away this evening while I was rounding up Skye and Mini (still trying to get in the side). She is such a stroppy mare at the moment. Debs is letting me have a bumper bit to see how it goes. That should be fun. I hasten to add if she does crow, she will definitely be dinner because she can't be a pet then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted February 4, 2010 Share Posted February 4, 2010 Purkinje has done this the last couple of days - no idea why! Might have to hold her down and pretend to be the cockerel and see if that works Don't have time to hold her for an hour before school - think they'd mind if she went back in again? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted February 5, 2010 Author Share Posted February 5, 2010 Erin brought her inside today and she was much better relaxed and hunkered down on her lap nicely. She was perfectly behaved outside and this evening she stood at the door of the run so I put some corn in my hand and she pecked daintily at it - even sharing the handful with Skye without any todo at all. So the cuddles seem to be paying off. There you go Lewis - we have good cop bad cop going on here. I'm the bad cop making her squat obviously. It wasn't necessary today. The bumper bit didn't arrive, I'm hoping I won't need it. She might be grumpy tomorrow - we shall see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted February 5, 2010 Share Posted February 5, 2010 The bumper bit didn't arrive, I'm hoping I won't need it. Give it chance Phil only posted it this morning We missed the post last night Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted February 5, 2010 Author Share Posted February 5, 2010 That's OK - our post is usually tardy here - we'll probably get it on Tuesday! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
