Sarah 2 Posted July 5, 2007 Share Posted July 5, 2007 I know hens are supposed to peck. But my poor little boy was so distressed yesterday when Toffee thought he had a rasin in his hand and she almost pecked off his finger. He now won't even go into the garden without screaming at the chickens. When I let them out of the run this morning she was even having a go at my fingers. Any ideas what I could do to stop it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted July 5, 2007 Share Posted July 5, 2007 Hmmmm deja vu - I think I've said this once already today I had the same problem when I first got my two - I used to feed them bits and so they came to think that my fingers were food too Then I got an old stainless steel measuring cup and started putting their treats in it. Now the cup is the focus for pecks instead of me - they'll follow it anywhere Maybe this would help you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffie Posted July 5, 2007 Share Posted July 5, 2007 Imagine you're a hen and fingers look interesting, so they peck as it may be food I can only suggest you lay your hand out flat with some corn on it and help your little boy get used to them pecking grain off your hand. That's all I can think of, BBx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted July 5, 2007 Share Posted July 5, 2007 The only thing I can suggest is not to feed them by hand, just scatter the food so they peck the ground and not your fingers. Poor little lad!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted July 5, 2007 Share Posted July 5, 2007 We had that with our little lad too - I think the chooks thought his fingers were worms. Mind you, they peck at my fingers when I'm trying to do the padlock up on th run as well!! I don't think you'll ever stop them pecking at fingers so you have to work from the other end and try not to let your lad put himself in a position where he'll get pecked. Our boy (who's 1) now only feeds them through the run with things that are big enough for him to hold out - slices of corn on the cob, bits of apple, lettuce or cabbage leaves, everything else he just throws in for them. I really hope he gets over it, it would be a real shame if he was put off by it. I sat holding one of ours and feeding her so she wasn't interested in him and eventually my boy felt safe enough to stroke her - job done. Also, don't ever let him near them with bare feet - toes hurt even more! Hope he gets over it soon Mrs Bertie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starboyhull Posted July 5, 2007 Share Posted July 5, 2007 Ours are also a bit rough sometimes and it does hurt when they peck.......We found laying food on your hand was easier until they calm down a bit or putting it on the floor (or be very quick with the next raisin )........ Im sure they will calm down and your lad will get used to them in the end, I think its the shock value as well as they do move very fast if they think there is food..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted July 5, 2007 Share Posted July 5, 2007 I'm afraid I only poke food through the bars as well - the pecks are surprisingly painful, can't imagine what they must feel like to a child. I gave up trying to hand-feed mine quite early on. Obviously this applies more to adults, but do remove any rings before feeding, because they will peck anything shiny, including nail polish - I have to cover my watch up or remove it, as the glass attracts them. Sorry I can't offer any solutions, I think pecking is what hens do naturally! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah 2 Posted July 5, 2007 Author Share Posted July 5, 2007 Thank you everyone for your ideas. I've actually never let any of my children feed them my hand because one of the hens has a wonky beak and it really hurts. We always feed them from a pot (maybe I need a bigger pot) or scatter their food on the floor. But I think Toffee just doesn't want to be left out, so she gets in there quick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hasnett Posted July 5, 2007 Share Posted July 5, 2007 Mind you, they peck at my fingers when I'm trying to do the padlock up on th run as well!! Why do you padlock the run? Becuase of childern or am i not being cautious enough? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starboyhull Posted July 5, 2007 Share Posted July 5, 2007 I also padlock our run and I think omlet could do to include a lock on the egg port too.....The eglus are designed for people in the city with limited space.....I worry that someoene will come in out garden and hurt our hens.....I would guess there is less crime in the country so this wouldnt be needed...... Whats everyone elses thought on this??? Or are we just paranoid??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted July 5, 2007 Share Posted July 5, 2007 Hi there, I padlock it because small boy discovered quite early on he could remove the stake thingy that keeps the door shut, so even if he removes it ours still can't get out. We have loads of foxes and a fence that's not secure yet so I could end up chasing them through the cow fields. Although that would probably look quite funny to an onlooker...... I also think the eggport could do with a lock as my older two (only 6 and 4 still) are desperate to check for eggs but can't close it properly and although I keep telling them not to open it without me I know the day will come when I find it either off or only partly closed. Mrs Bertie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starboyhull Posted July 5, 2007 Share Posted July 5, 2007 I agree with you Mrs Bertie, it would b a very good idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 5, 2007 Share Posted July 5, 2007 We have been giving our girls, Ginger and Amber, the odd squashy strawberry. All well and good till I was in the garden with Scholls on, and painted red toenails. They went mad and ran round the garden after me till David managed to call them off. From now on, I'm wearing socks if I have painted toenails. They do peck at us when we're closing them in, sometimes the gate into the pen needs a bit of a wiggle, and they always seem to catch me on my cuticles, which bloomin hurts ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gentle1973 Posted July 5, 2007 Share Posted July 5, 2007 My three are also quite "pecky". My Rhode Island Red pecked my daughter's eye at the weekend, luckily she shut her eye in time, but she still ended up with a bruise on here eyelid. She was leaning over them and they were pecking at her hair. She is perfectly ok, but it has made her more cautious around them, which I don't think is a bad thing. My RIR also loves nail varnish and jewellery and is a bit of a pain in the bum when you are trying to get out the kitchen door! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
menagerie Posted July 5, 2007 Share Posted July 5, 2007 My Henrietta has a very sharp beak I've discovered! I think when I start to let them out I'll have to feed them out of a container as suggested. At the moment it'sso tempting to feed them bits through the wire, and they are so nice and clucky when I do... It would be good if they didn't dive for my fingers so I could get at the food and water thingies! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisnrob Posted July 5, 2007 Share Posted July 5, 2007 We have found hand feeding less painful since we moved from a cupped hand to a completely flat palm We have also found that they have become less painful peckers since they've started laying. Chris did crouch down to them the other day though and Greta pecked at his lip - he leapt up in shock, holding a bleeding lip. It wasn't a big cut but it did bleed a lot! Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted July 6, 2007 Share Posted July 6, 2007 Ow! All these stories are making me cringe! My mum was "had" by Rainbow our Blackrock - got her fair and square on the earring and had to be prised off it! I think it's fair to say that if it doesn't move quick enough then the girls will peck it to see if they can eat it! Mrs Bertie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enzed Posted July 6, 2007 Share Posted July 6, 2007 My 2 also peck fingers and toes. As far as I can tell, they're not being nasty, they just think it's food... although I have started now getting chicken visitors to wear closed toe shoes, because the chickchicks go straight for the toes!! And, I don't really feed them by hand anymore - too many nips from over excited chickens, we use a cheap plastic tumbler for corn, and anything else goes in a treats bowl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
