A question chicken owners ask is – Can Chickens bite?
In short – Anything that has a mouth will certainly bite
So yes, a chicken can bite and will bite you if they have to!
In this article you’re going to discover the following
- Do chickens bite and reasons why (in detail)
- What happens if a chicken bites you
- Do they have teeth?
So if you’re wondering if chickens bite and you’re just curious about this, you’re going to love this article!
Sound good?
Great, let’s “cluck” right in!
Do Chickens Bite & Why They Do
If you’ve ever met a person who has chickens or someone that has to move a broody hen, they’d tell you to watch out for that beak!
Regardless if a broody hen is your best friend, the minute you mess around with the nest of a broody hen you’re going to to get pecked at!
Lesson learnt – don’t touch a broody hen otherwise be prepared to be bitten
Chickens will bite for various reasons
Maybe you’re trying to move a broody hen or messing with their nest (as mentioned earlier)
Some chickens are just more aggressive than others. It’s just their personality
It could be hormonal where a chicken becomes more aggressive and bites at you
Now if your chicken is biting at you or pecking you – you should not give a reaction
Here’s what you should do (taken from other chicken owners experience)
- When your chicken bites you, give him/her a slight push/hit on the side of the beak or on the side, that way your chicken gets the idea that you’re in charge and will hopefully stop. Don’t hit with force or anything but a slight nudge enough for your chicken to understand they have to stop
- Just don’t react at all. This could work and not work too. It actually depends on the chicken so it’s worth a try and see what happens!
- Blowing on your chicken. This has worked for one chicken parent where all they did was blow in their face. It’s safe and has been the quickest and most effective!
These are some options you can try to do and see if your chicken stops biting you.
Let me know in the comment below if you have tried any other method that has worked, I’d love to know and I’m sure other readers would too!
What Happens If a Chicken Bites You?
Good news is a chicken bite does not hurt at all
It feels like more of a pinch then a bite
If a chicken holds on long enough it can cause a mark but that’s just about how bad it gets
It’s actually not painful at all
But do remember each bird and breed is different
Don’t go try testing to see if it actually hurts!
If your chicken has bitten you then you should wash the wound with soap and warm water immediately (source)
Seek medical attention and tell your doctor that your chicken has bit you especially if
- Your chicken appears to be sick or not acting themselves
- The wound or injury look serious
- The wound looks red, swollen, painful or feels warm
It’s always to be safe than sorry
You should try your best to avoid your chicken from biting you
Do Chickens Have Teeth?
Just do a quick internet image search about chicken teeth for some entertainment!
They sure are some funny images out there
But no, chickens don’t have teeth!
It’s actually good they don’t because they can peck at amazing speed
So imagine if they had teeth! They would cause some serious damage!
Why Do Chickens Peck Your Feet?
This is a common behavior from chickens!
You’re out in the garden and chickens start to peck at your feet
Why do they peck your feet?
Chickens peck at your feet because they’re curious or think you have something on you which they can eat
This is actually common with younger chickens
It’s very rare but a chicken pecking at your feet could also mean a form of aggression to show dominance
Chickens usually peck at things to check if it’s food
If you have shiny shoes then chances are they’ll peck at it because they have very good eyesight and drawn to shiny objects!
Just make sure you’re not wearing open toes slippers otherwise be prepared for some toe pecking!
Before I wrap up, here’s some other interesting articles about chickens which I think you’ll find interesting so do check them out
Wrapping Up
Chickens can bite
But they will only bite if you’re annoying them or you’re messing with a broody hen’s nest
You don’t want to be messing with a broody hens nest
Good news is, a chicken bite does not hurt
It’s more of a pinch than a bite
But each chicken breed is different
