Chicken discipline? 😂

[KimbosKluckers]

My 7 week old gals are quite the peckers! Sometimes it even hurts a bit. Right now I wear boots and jeans but I’m terrified when it’s warm enough to wear shorts What does everyone else do? Just armor up?

 

[azygous]

Expecting a chicken not to peck at things, including your legs, is like expecting humans not to ask questions or to express an opinion. Using the beak to explore things is how chickens gather information about their environment. It's also how they communicate with each other and with their humans.

When a chicken behaves in a manner in which the flock disapproves, another chicken, usually a higher ranking individual, will peck the back or head of the misfit. You may do the same when a chicken is pecking at your legs, using your finger. It will deliver the message that the behavior is not okay. Repeated messaging can cause a change in behavior if you're consistent. This especially works well with very young chickens.

 

[Insnesnakos]

Mine peck my shoes a lot, it's their way of asking for attention
I gently push them away but they haven't got the message yet

 

[nuthatched]

Peck them back, pinch three fingers and peck them back hard,their faces, neck and back.

 

[KimbosKluckers]

Expecting a chicken not to peck at things, including your legs, is like expecting humans not to ask questions or to express an opinion. Using the beak to explore things is how chickens gather information about their environment. It's also how they communicate with each other and with their humans.

When a chicken behaves in a manner in which the flock disapproves, another chicken, usually a higher ranking individual, will peck the back or head of the misfit. You may do the same when a chicken is pecking at your legs, using your finger. It will deliver the message that the behavior is not okay. Repeated messaging can cause a change in behavior if you're consistent. This especially works well with very young chickens.

Oh I don’t expect them NOT to, I realize it’s their nature. I just know it’ll hurt when they’re bigger. Thanks for the tip!

Mine peck my shoes a lot, it's their way of asking for attention
I gently push them away but they haven't got the message yet

Haha. I may be reinforcing it hmm I laugh and then pet them. I’ll start pushing away or slightly pecking back. Thanks.

Peck them back, pinch three fingers and peck them back hard,their faces, neck and back.

Thanks for the advice. I’ll start doing that. I need to realize just because it’s cute right now, it may not be later.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Thanks for the advice. I’ll start doing that. I need to realize just because it’s cute right now, it may not be later.

It's not cute later when they decide they like the taste of your flesh. I have a couple gouges in my knee from one of my hens this afternoon... she's being extra ornery because she doesn't like the addition of chicks, and I haven't been paying close attention to where she is relative to my tasty legs.

 

[wrathsfarm]

Red toe nails takes the attention away from your legs...

 

[KimbosKluckers]

Red toe nails takes the attention away from your legs...

Funny you mention red…yesterday I had the tiniest scab on my leg and it was a target! One plucked it and it started bleeding, they all came running and I had to leave

 

[16 and me]

Fortunately, they only peck at my clothing cause Miss Goldie can get quite agressive with her loving attention!

 

[KimbosKluckers]

Fortunately, they only peck at my clothing cause Miss Goldie can get quite agressive with her loving attention!

What a sweetheart I hope my gals are that way.