It’s summertime, you’re bare-foot and roaming around your grassy backyard, feeling the soft blades between your toes – it’s paradise. Next thing you know, one of your cheeky hens has come and pecked your toes, leaving a nasty battle blow!
How do I stop my chickens pecking me?! – You may ask!
My name is Poultry Pete and I’ve been rearing and showing purebred poultry for over 45 years. I’ve seen all the habits of backyard chooks – the good and the bad – and have some expertise to share with you.
Stopping your chickens from pecking you involves:
- Understanding that most of the time they are merely curious, not aggressive
- Not rewarding the behaviour
- Stopping feeding them by hand
- Realising that they will grow out of it
- Showing them who’s boss
We’ll also be covering
- What to do when your chickens become aggressive towards each other
Let’s dive right in!
How do I stop chickens pecking me?
Although it’s a frustrating little habit, it’s a pretty easy fix. Follow these four strategies in order to stop your chickens pecking you in no time!
1. They are usually Curious, not Aggressive
The first thing to realise is that for the most part, your chickens are being curious, not aggressive.
Chickens are inquisitive creatures – they love foraging and scrounging for food, be it worms, bugs, or other critters. Oftentimes, they may mistake your toes, fingers, moles or even diamond rings for a tasty lunch.
One hot tip is to ensure you are giving your chickens enough time to roam the yard, as well as providing well-rounded nutrition. If they are bored, restless and lacking nutrition, this can lead to problems, including pecking things they’re not supposed to e.g. eggs and fingers – OUCH.
2. Don’t Reward the Behaviour
Although chickens are not the most intelligent beings in the animal kingdom, they still very much act on instinct and can certainly develop bad behaviours and habits.
I have come across many chicken owners who have tried ‘distracting’ the toe-pecking birds by throwing feed or goodies the other direction. In reality, this is only a short term strategy, not a long term fix.
Sure, your fowls may scatter and leave you alone at the time, but they will only begin to associate their pecking habit with extra goodies!
3. Stopping Feeding them by Hand
Although feeding your chickens by hand (especially treats) is a heartwarming experience, it may be doing more harm than good. As mentioned, chickens will start to associate you as being their number 1 provider of food, meaning that they’ll hassle you every time you walk by.
Instead, when feeding them, use a dish or feeder and stand aside, ensuring that your chickens are focused on the inanimate object.
4. Realise that they will grow out of it
Oftentimes, younger chickens are seen pecking a range of different things (including you) more regularly than older fowls. Over time, chickens start to gain a sense of what’s food and what’s not.
Just like a baby loves to shove anything and everything into their mouth, so too do younger chickens using trial and error to figure out what’s worth pecking.
5. Show them who’s boss
Often, asserting your dominance will do wonders when it comes to preventing pecking. As they approach you a commit the dirty deed, immediately and assertively pick up the offender, holding them tightly in your grip.
This will show them who’s boss! They’ll soon learn that every time they peck, they’re met with a strong display of dominance.
What to do when your chicken’s pecking becomes aggressive?
It’s important to act quickly if you find your chickens pecking habit starts to turn aggressive. Often, this will mean that they start directing their pecking power towards each other, which needs to be addressed.
1. Cure their boredom
As we have mentioned, most often, chickens become aggressive when they are cooped up for too long. Try to maximise the amount of time they spend roaming in the outdoors, rather than stuck in their cage.
Regularly changing their bedding and type of feed can also help to lower boredom.
2. Give them Abundant Resources
Make sure that your chickens have 24-hour, abundant access to food and water so that the process of consumption does not become competitive in any way.
It’s also worth spreading your feeders and waterers out for easy, unrestricted access.
3. Reduce Stress Levels
If your chickens are stressed, they can become irritable and desperate. It’s a good idea to regularly check your fowls for signs of lice, worms, mites or illness. Are the offending birds displaying any signs of ill health or weight-loss?
If so, do your research, take action, or if you’re unsure, contact a veterinarian.
4. Give them more space
Does anyone remember when Coronavirus kept us homebound for months on end? Lockdown certainly drove many families into insanity, cooped up in their houses with limited ability to go outside.
Your chickens are no different. If your fowls are overcrowded it won’t be long before they start pecking at each other. You may need to spread them out by extending their coop or selling some of your birds.