1 y.o. BO hen started biting me

[MIchickenlady]

This week my 1 y.o. Buff Orpington started biting me-see pictures.
First bite was as I was walking out of the run, she ran up behind me and bit my leg-drew blood. I picked her up and held her down on my lap to show her whos boss.
She has been occasionally picking feathers of the other three hens for a few weeks.
Then this morning, she bit my hand as I was paying attention to another hen, drew blood. I pushed her away, she came back at me, I swatted her back and left.
What is going on? Is she suddenly protective? I've sat with them daily since they were day old chicks, they re used to my petting and hop on my lap....this particular hen is named Sassy for a reason though, shes always pecked at me, curious like, not hard like this...what do I do?!!

 

[staceyj]

Things to consider:
Are they getting a feed with enough protein in it, and is it being diluted in nutrition by too many treats?

Do they have enough room and places to “get away” from each other?

She might need a timeout for a few days.
Also you might want to wrap her up in a bath towel and give that top beak a tiny trim.

I have a buff who’s a biter.
She always pecked, but recently she’s been down right biting.

I noticed yesterday that her upper beak it quite pointy, not over grown, just filed sharp!
They routinely wipe their mouths off after they eat. She especially. And since they freerange in an urban back yard, she does this on a cement sidewalk frequently instead of just on the grass. I think she has honed it to a sharp point.

I looked at the others and two of them also have sharp beaks so I just five minutes ago snipped theirs. (Just regular nail clippers) they didn’t love it but tolerated it well and it only too a few seconds.
I had them wrapped tight and covered their faces too so that only the beak was sticking out.

Corrine is hard to catch , but she’s currently in the nesting box. I quietly shut the door.
When she’s finished I’m going to take her straight from the nest to my lap on the porch and take care of her too.

 

[MIchickenlady]

Things to consider:
Are they getting a feed with enough protein in it, and is it being diluted in nutrition by too many treats?

Do they have enough room and places to “get away” from each other?

She might need a timeout for a few days.
Also you might want to wrap her up in a bath towel and give that top beak a tiny trim.

I have a buff who’s a biter.
She always pecked, but recently she’s been down right biting.

I noticed yesterday that her upper beak it quite pointy, not over grown, just filed sharp!
They routinely wipe their mouths off after they eat. She especially. And since they freerange in an urban back yard, she does this on a cement sidewalk frequently instead of just on the grass. I think she has honed it to a sharp point.

I looked at the others and two of them also have sharp beaks so I just five minutes ago snipped theirs. (Just regular nail clippers) they didn’t love it but tolerated it well and it only too a few seconds.
I had them wrapped tight and covered their faces too so that only the beak was sticking out.

Corrine is hard to catch , but she’s currently in the nesting box. I quietly shut the door.
When she’s finished I’m going to take her straight from the nest to my lap on the porch and take care of her too.

Thank for sharing your thoughts! I have mixed my layer crumbles that have calcium with 18% grower crumble for more protein. I may be over-doing the treats...grapes, mealworms, cheerios...
Sassys beak was nipped off halfway a month ago and thankfully it grew back...longer than it was before. I wish I understood *why she has started biting.
Anyway, thanks again

 

[staceyj]

Layer has 16% protein ( the minimum required) so if you’ve mixed it with 18% you’ve only gone up 1% and if you’re giving treats you might still be below the minimum. Maybe supplement with some cooked eggs or a little canned fish for a few days in a row and see if you notice a difference!
*don’t forget the calcium on the side.

 

[BreanneRN]

My hens bite me because they never figured out that those meal worms in my hand weren't actually just part of my hand... Those Cochins aren't the smartest, I don't think. Have to be careful giving them treats... But they never attack me in the coop... and I don't feed them from the palm of my hand anymore. My hands are tough from all the fence building and what have you I do around here, so it doesn't hurt really. I still love my big, fluffy girls... Mostly throw their treats into the coop these days, though.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Have you tried pecking her back? Use your index and middle fingers and jab her in the back of the neck, not hard enough to hurt her but enough to get a little squawk. That's how chickens put each other in their place. You need to be consistent about it, don't wait for her to peck hard, do it any time she pecks you.

Also if you normally give treats by hand I would stop for now, just so she doesn't see that as a reason to peck at you. Just toss treats on the ground.

 

[frostic]

My 3 queens have always been agressive with anyone but me. I do the same as @rosemarythyme says to do by pecking them with your finger on the back of their neck.

also when 1 chicken gets really aggressive to other chickens, they get put in a seperate cage for a day inside and they seem to be nice again for about 3 to 4 months.
I also agre that you need to feed them treats on the ground, and give them some scrambled eggs, no salt/pepper/milk just plain eggs if they are not getting enough protein.
I too use layer feed with 16% protein but also give them eggs every 4 or 5 days.
watermelon when its hot, also If you give them layer feed and they don't seem to like it, I noticed if you get it a bit wet they devour it...

why i got it wet is because it seems a bit dusty. and i don't think they like that. but wet feed they seem to love it however make sure that you give them fresh feed each day so it can't grow mold from being wet.

 

[aart]

Sassy for a reason though, shes always pecked at me, curious like, not hard like this...what do I do?!!

Well, you probably should have nipped(haha!) this in the bud long ago but you still can.

Have had this happen several times, mostly with hand fed chicks often as they come of age and get spunky. It's pretty easily curbed with calm and deliberate determination.

I peck them back, on the head or anywhere I can reach, with the tips of thumb and first 2 fingers, as hard and fast as many times as I can before they get away. Well, not hard enough to hurt them, just startle them and let them you mean business. That's what another chicken would do, so they understand that kind of communication.

If that doesn't work after a couple applications, I hold them down to the ground with my hand on their back until they submit....again firmly enough to get the job done but not hurt them....add a few finger pecks and/or tug on the feathers on the back of their neck.

 

[MIchickenlady]

@aart @frostic @rosemarythyme - Thank you for your thoughts on the biting issue.
I'll up the protein a bit more, and be ready to jab lil Sassy back if she gets feisty with me. She is pretty quick, so if she scoots away, should I go after her to peck her back? Chasing seems to really rile them up.
I tucked Sassy under my arm, held her tight and carried her around the yard a while this morning. Hopefully, that helps show her whos in control.
Now to go deal with my repeat broody...sigh.
Thanks again!!!

 

[aart]

She is pretty quick, so if she scoots away, should I go after her to peck her back?

I wouldn't chase her too far, but yeah.
Not sure protein has anything to do with it...she's not plucking your feathers to eat, right? Kidding. Really think it's a familiarity/posturing behavior, nothing to do with food(except hand feeding can make it an easy habit to start).