Aggressive chicken towards me all of a sudden

[Shannonlnorris]

I have a 2 year old hen that I raised from a chick. We have always been really close. When she hears my voice or sees me she comes running and lays down on her side and waits for me to pick her up. All of a sudden when I go outside she no longer does this. If I go into her coop to restock the seed/water she chases after me and attacks my feet to the point where she draws blood and tries to fly at my face. Last week I went out to see her and went to pick her up and as I bent down she pecked me in the eye. Again this week I did the same and she bit my ear.
I just don't understand what's happened, it's come out of no where. She used to always need to be around me now it's like she hates my guts!

Has anyone else had this happen?

 

[Folly's place]

So sorry! Whatever she's thinking, it's very bad for you and your eyeballs. Carry a weapon or a water pistol and let her have it when she looks your way every time, or send her to someone's crockpot before you do lose an eye Mary.

 

[DuckGirl77]

I have had roos like that, but never hens. Did something really scare her so now she's afraid? That is weird. One of my hens is mean when she's in the nestbox, probably because she feels cornered (she's never been broody) and another growls when she's broody, but that's the most aggression I've seen from a hen.
I don't know what good advice I can give, but, personally, I would show her that I'm not scared of her and that this must stop. Maybe picking her up and holding her beak shut for a few seconds when she is mean would work. If she's not that bad, you might ignore her, but I don't know if that would work or not.
I hope you can figure this out! It must be frustrating and sad to see her acting like this.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

My thoughts are she's trying to dominate you to move up the ladder, if she used to squat for you then she was submitting and she thinks of you as part of the flock. Most chickens don't fully mature until about two years, then they become more confident. You may have to have it out with her.

 

[DuckGirl77]

My thoughts are she's trying to dominate you to move up the ladder, if she used to squat for you then she was submitting and she thinks of you as part of the flock. Most chickens don't fully mature until about two years, then they become more confident. You may have to have it out with her.

OK that sounds right; so scratch what I said about ignoring her

 

[Folly's place]

Is she growing to look masculine? Crowing? Sometimes hens develop an ovarian tumor, or something, and start to act and look like roosters. Not a good thing either. Mary

 

[The Pinto Pony]

Is she growing to look masculine? Crowing? Sometimes hens develop an ovarian tumor, or something, and start to act and look like roosters. Not a good thing either. Mary

Thats what I was going to say!

 

[Shannonlnorris]

Thank you everyone so much! I have noticed she used to be the top in the pecking order then she started malting and now she is the bottom. I also can't help but think she's angry at me as I moved out of home and only see her on the weekends. Could this also be a reason why she doesn't act the same around me anymore?

 

[Shannonlnorris]

She's just malted and lost a lot of feathers so is hard to tell right now but I'll keep an eye on her! Thank you!

 

[The Pinto Pony]

Thank you everyone so much! I have noticed she used to be the top in the pecking order then she started malting and now she is the bottom. I also can't help but think she's angry at me as I moved out of home and only see her on the weekends. Could this also be a reason why she doesn't act the same around me anymore?

That could be the reason why she's so mad at you! Plus what breed is she? Because I know that some breeds are more agressive than others.