2 week old chick attacks my hand and launches at brooder door when it sees me

Hi All,

I am new to this site, and I have searched to see if anyone else has had the same issue as me, but to no avail. So here is my problem: I bought 6 chicks 2 weeks ago (2 buff opringtons, 2 RIR & 2 unknown w/black feathers). Up until today they have been great. This morning when I went to change out their food and water one of the buffs acted very aggressive. She flew at the brooder door (it's a re-purposed wire dog kennel) when she saw me and bounced off. When I opened it she charged at my hand and started pecking at it like she was trying to get me to go away. After I washed their water and food dishes I went to put them back in the brooder and again and the same chick lowered her head a bit, and proceeded to charged at the door once again and bounced off, and once I opened it she actually chest bumped the water container out of my hand and proceeded to start pecking at me again. She almost acts like she is trying to protect the others and keep me away. Is this normal behavior? And if not, what can I do? My 18 year old son is now refusing to even help out with them because she acts like such a jerk! I don't want to do something wrong and make it worse, so any suggestions would be very welcome!!

Sometimes they act aggressive if there hungry. .
Tell your son put down the video game and feed the chickens. .

I ment that in a nice way

LOL...that is exactly what I did...and I didn't say it in a nice way!

In Chicken World, that type of behavior isn't really meant by the chicken as aggressive. In reality, the chick is excited to see you because it is already associating you and your hands with food. Thus the pecking at your hands. She has learned your hands produce food, and she's excited so is trying to hurry to process along.

I just went out to my run a while ago to feed my chickens their evening ration of fermented feed. One of the more excitable hens flew right at the door and I thought she would end up knocking herself out from bashing into it. This is pretty typical of her breed (Welsummer), and a few of the others get almost as excited and "aggressive" when they know I'm bringing treats.

So often people think chickens are being aggressive when they are simply excited and happy to see you.

I offer an other scenario. She is a he, and asserting early Roo behavior. I had one little chick like that last spring. He was 2 weeks old and defended his Mama and his siblings from my hand. He'd attack when ever I tended the brood. I dubbed him "little man" and immediately started dominance training with him. Within a week, he was a well behaved little boy.

lazy gardener said:

I offer an other scenario. She is a he, and asserting early Roo behavior. I had one little chick like that last spring. He was 2 weeks old and defended his Mama and his siblings from my hand. He'd attack when ever I tended the brood. I dubbed him "little man" and immediately started dominance training with him. Within a week, he was a well behaved little boy.

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When my rooster was that age, he just stood and watched everything I did ... the pullets were the excitable ones. Think azygous gave you great insight.

It could be either scenario, so let's see what happens. Don't let 'her' be rude to you at all. No pecking! Mary

I appreciate all of your input! I hope 'she' is just super excited that I am the bomb diggity This morning she wasn't as bad, just rushed to the front and kept a very close eye on me, and interestingly enough this time I kept my hand in there really still before I did anything else, and as soon as my arm brushed against the cardboard that I put at the bottom to keep the litter in she vehemently started pecking at the cardboard like she was trying to protect me from it. May she had a run in with the cardboard at some point...

TwistedTails said:

I appreciate all of your input! I hope 'she' is just super excited that I am the bomb diggity

This morning she wasn't as bad, just rushed to the front and kept a very close eye on me, and interestingly enough this time I kept my hand in there really still before I did anything else, and as soon as my arm brushed against the cardboard that I put at the bottom to keep the litter in she vehemently started pecking at the cardboard like she was trying to protect me from it. May she had a run in with the cardboard at some point...

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LOL, a run in with the cardboard!
Sure hope this all works out TwistedTails!
One of my chicks was acting odd that way and I decided I was not going to take it!
I picked her up and gave her extra love & treats for 3 days in a row and she finally decided I was a good chicken mama after all.
Now she jumps in my lap when I'm sitting in their run, which at least twice each day.
Her name in Onyx and she is a BSL 7 weeks old.

lazy gardener said:

I offer an other scenario. She is a he, and asserting early Roo behavior. I had one little chick like that last spring. He was 2 weeks old and defended his Mama and his siblings from my hand. He'd attack when ever I tended the brood. I dubbed him "little man" and immediately started dominance training with him. Within a week, he was a well behaved little boy.

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I bought mine at our local farm supply, and they swore up and down they would be girls, but after reading others experiences I wouldn't be surprised. What is dominance training? And do I wait until I really know if she is a he before I start?