a hen attacks me all of a sudden

Ccuckoo

Chirping
Aug 22, 2021
27
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54
Hi
I have three hens- 2 are wyandotte, one is russian orloff. I got them when they were about 6 weeks old. The orloff is the bottom of the pecking order and she was wounded from the very first day I got her- I guess she was attacked from her old flock, so I treated her. While I treated her, I guess she learned I am not a predator so she stopped scattering while I am around.

I never had a problem petting her, she always let me pet her, did chicken squat when Im around, but she is a completely different hen right now!
I was not paying much attention to the girls for last two weeks because my friend from oversea visit the state. I used to clean the coop, say good night to the girls and feed them and did all the works, but for the last two weeks, I did do couple of the works but someone else from my family did them most likely because I was out.

And after two weeks, which is right now, the orloff started to attack me all of a sudden whenever I tried to pet her like I used to do! She lets me hold her though, she doesn’t try to escape or anything, but she bites me! So I pecked her back! nothing dramatic, I pushed her head gently, and then she attacked me back again! with double kicks! I was SO shocked that my sweetest girl did this to me so I pecked her again and yelled cockadoodledoo! Such a drama!!!
I kept my eyes on her and she was keep looking at me as well, but looked at the other way after seconds.

I thought this was a hormone thing but she started laying 3 months ago, and she never stays in her nest after laying. Do you think she forgot about me during the past two weeks and now she’s trying to put me into the bottom of the order? She kind of still does squat when I am around, but still bites me when I try to pet her.

Also, they used to free ranged, but now they are caged- it’s big enough for 3 hens, they have place to do dust bath, lay eggs, and perch. But I am wondering if this makes her stressed out.
 
I had a aggressive hen, but she's mellowed out, & not so bad anymore, but I have another, a pullet that's abit aggressive. Hoping she'll mellow out as she gets older too.
 
She is under lots of stress, being free ranged for a while to be living in a cooped up area with other hen's can be hard. Give her some time to get used to her new way of living and see what that does.
I see, i mean i’ll be so upset too if I was her, especially for orloff.
 
I had a aggressive hen, but she's mellowed out, & not so bad anymore, but I have another, a pullet that's abit aggressive. Hoping she'll mellow out as she gets older too.
I hope she get used to her new area and mellowed as she gets mature. thanks
 
I had this happen with my rooster after I had to leave him for 2 months during a relocation process. When I got back, he had "stranger danger" syndrome and bit and struggled when I picked him up. He had a great caretaker, but during that time, no outside exercise and no one around he knew and trusted. With his normal routine resumed, letting him out for exercise, talking to him and treats, it resolved itself very fast and he went back to being a sweet boy.
 
I had this happen with my rooster after I had to leave him for 2 months during a relocation process. When I got back, he had "stranger danger" syndrome and bit and struggled when I picked him up. He had a great caretaker, but during that time, no outside exercise and no one around he knew and trusted. With his normal routine resumed, letting him out for exercise, talking to him and treats, it resolved itself very fast and he went back to being a sweet boy.
i guess that she needs more time to get used to the new environment and i sure need to go to coop more often!
 
What is amazing about chicken's is you can build such a strong connection with them. My babies come running up to me every time I step out of the house Haha, they are such amazing creatures indeed.
they are! and I see that they are a bit threatened when I am moving around inside the coop. I sure need to spend more time with them
 

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