Chickens pecking feet...help!

[RedBarnHens]

I'm really enjoying my chickens, but two of them have started pecking at my shoes and my trousers. To begin with I thought it was that they thought there was some food on my shoes, but then they started on my trousers and hands when I bent down to do anything.

This morning they were particularly active and I had had enough, so I picked up one of them and she puffed up the feathers on her neck, but I held her close and walked around with here for a while then put her down. The second one then started so I did the same to her. I just went up to check on them and it seemed a bit better. When one of them came towards my feet I made a 'shoo-ing' noise and there was no pecking So perhaps I've won!

Yesterday one of our Labradors went to say hello (she really loves going up to the chicken pen) and 'Dora' the pecky one pecked her on the nose!! Now she goes up there and 'woofs' at them...grrrr.

Is this behaviour a dominancy thing??????

I'm not really aware at the moment of the 'pecking order' of the hens, apart from Ginger, who seems to be the last to get any of the veggies I put out late afternoon. So I now put 2 dishes out to give her a better chance. They really love the spinach leaves and grated carrot.

I'm also very glad to report that they take themselves off to bed at night and the pop hole closes at 10.30pm at the moment. I always check after it's closed to ensure they are all in. The pop hole opens at 5.30 am so they have a nice long day outside. I do have a suspicion though that one of them may be roosting on the floor, so tonight I will go into the coop area and check.

 

[dinosaw]

It's just curiosity Redbarn, pecking is how they sense and taste, what do your hands last like?, are they edible?, what about your shoes?. Just shoo them and give them a shove when they do it and they will get the message.

 

[rick]

Getting gently pecked is one of the joys of keeping chickens I’m afraid. Its what they do. Mine are always pecking my shoes and trousers, especially after I’ve taken the dog for a walk. They have really incredible, pin sharp eyesight within 3 feet and 4 colour vision so to get any idea of what they are seeing you would need a UV lamp and a magnifying glass!
Picking them up is really important, so you can look them over properly as well as for a fuss and to move them around. It took me a while to get the hang of it. Marigold provided guidance and I watched several examples on youtube.

 

[Marigold]

The eyes and beak are the main way a chicken explores the world - feet are useful for scratching up interesting stuff, but then it's the beak that investigates it. It's also their only means of defence, apart from flight - it was good that your dog was pecked on the nose, he will steer clear from now on! Not so bad with a Lab, but our previous terrier was a problem until one if my girls stood her ground and gave him a hard peck, after which he pretended not to see my 'invisible' hens! The present terrier has still to learn this - two years on .....

 

[RedBarnHens]

Thank you for your replies. I believe my picking up of the two chickens has had an effect. Today they were much less interested in me. I still had a very gentle peck on my shoes when I was poop picking in the coop, but it was a much nicer visit. They are happy for me to stroke their backs and peace reigned.

On another note......when I went to egg collect today I found the remains of a broken/crushed egg in one of the nests. I think it was one of the younger chickens who have just started to lay. Do you think that the shell was just too soft and it got broken???

 

[chickenfan]

They look lovely hens - and what a nice run you've made for them! They may have laid a thin-shelled egg if one has broken. Have they got mixed grit and nice thick nesting material?

 

[Marigold]

Odd eggs, thin shells, double yolks etc, are quite normal now and then for young 'teenage' pullets going through chicken puberty. They sometimes need a little time for their hormonal systems to settle down and coordinate the several different processes involved in producing an egg covered in shell. I'm sure she'll grow out of it in a week or two.

 

[valeriebutterley]

I think boot and trouser pecking are a sign of affection, my tamest and friendliest hens, over the years, have always done it.