Aggressive behavior

[organicmom03]

Need advice from some experienced chicken pro's out there. We have eight 6 month old hens. Everyone has started laying over the last month or so. One of our girls is a black Australorp and has always been the most friendly from day one. She always wants to be picked up and wants attention, to the point of screaming if we don't. Recently though she has started to attack the other birds if they are shown attention. Here's the interesting part though, if I'm showing attention to another hen or my daughter is it's fine, but if my husband or my son is, she will attack to the point of drawing blood. So my question is really twofold #1 why do you think that is? #2 what can we do about it? How do you treat aggressive behavior in a chicken? Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[Abriana]

Are you positive she isn't a he? That would explain why she is attacking your husband and son, she/he can probably tell they are males and potential threats to his dominance. You and your daughter he/she can probably tell are females and therefore are just some harmless 'hens'. It is really hard to type on the device I am on but tomorrow I can give you some rooster handling tips. Good luck!

 

[azygous]

It's not clear whom this hen is attacking. The humans or the chickens they are holding?

If she's attacking the humans, yes, that would be a very serious problem. If she is attacking the chickens that the humans are holding, that is normal chicken behavior.

I won't comment further until you clarify who's getting attacked.

 

[organicmom03]

Hello..sorry for the confusion, she is attacking the chickens they are holding. Never the people. Is there anything we can do to discourage it? She does it so aggressively she is causing harm, this afternoon she ripped somebody's comb.

 

[azygous]

Ah, hah! I thought so. This is normal, as I mentioned. First of all, yes, chickens can get jealous. Their version, anyway. It's a chicken-y thing - they want what they see another chicken having.

The companion behavior to that is they often cannot resist giving a "captive" a good thumping. When your husband and son are holding a hen, this renders the hen "captive" in your aggressive hen's eyes. Thus, the hen confined to a lap is fair game.

The solution is very simple. When any hen is being handled, do it out of reach of the aggressive hen. Or remove the hen from the flock to do the handling and cuddling.

 

[dunnmom]

Azygous has a good idea. But here's a different approach you might consider. Your husband and son could do the work of a roo, and discipline her for this unwanted behavior. I got this idea from someone else, and it helped me gain dominance over a couple of my hens that were showing aggression. They were pecking me, not other hens, but I think the technique might work here, too. You might have your husband and son "peck" her back with their finger when she goes after her target. Just hard enough to get her attention, see how she likes it, and make her stop. The fact that she does it when they hold other chickens makes me think the hen in question may not accept or respect the dominance of your husband and son the same as she does for you for whatever reason. It only took a few times of me poking my little jerks on the back of the head for them to get the point that I found their behavior unacceptable, and they haven't done it since. They are now sweeties like their other flock-mates. I know it sounds mean, but you can't have her tearing up other hens over a bit of jealousy.

 

[azygous]

Excellent advice! I should have thought of that. Pecking a problem bird on the top of the head or back is how dominant members of the flock discipline lower ranking members, especially juveniles.

It works very well, and quickly, with baby chicks and very young chickens. I've had less success with it, though, the older the chickens get.

I've watched my rooster break up fights between two hens, and he will always give the aggressor a quick peck on her back. How he knows who is to blame escapes me, but he seems certain while I haven't a clue.

So, now you have several ways to address this problem! Thanks, dunnmom!

 

[ChickNanny13]

Great info, not that I'm having issues but it's always good to learn new stuff.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Hello..sorry for the confusion, she is attacking the chickens they are holding. Never the people. Is there anything we can do to discourage it? She does it so aggressively she is causing harm, this afternoon she ripped somebody's comb.

This is usual & normal chicken behavior. And yes, there is some minor cruelty that you can visit on this hen that will demote her, if not in the flock's eyes then at least in the eyes of the hen in question.. That is what all the suggestions amount to when breaking a hen from exerting herself or what others call bullying behavior. Just treat her badly enough and she will lose enough of her self confidence that she will fall into line, or move down the pecking order.

The idea of a rooster attacking a captive roo is spot on correct. I have often shot an older alpha rooster whose only job it was to keep peace in a batchelor run or walk, of several dozens of youngsters and see the cockerals kept under the older roo's authority quickly turn on the old man before the gunshot stopped echoing. Just one moment of weakness is all it takes for the younger roosters to find their courage.

 

[aart]

Yep, peck em back!

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.