Aggressive chicken

[DKRickey]

In my first flock (almost 10 years ago...) Clara-belle (a sex-link star) was the top gal in our small flock of 6 hens. She started challenging me to submit and would bite and chase/attack demonstrating rooster-like behavior. One morning she attacked from the rear by kicking me in the back of my knees (dirty fighting). Out of instinct, I swung around, grabbed her by the neck and held her in mid air until she relaxed (took maybe 15 seconds). Then I dropped her to the ground and stood there over her. When she came to, she turned and ran. We had established who was going to be the top girl in the yard.

Bad behavior is not acceptable, and the other girls never questioned further. They'd shuffle pecking order through the years between themselves. I wasn't going to have ANY animal reign over me or the kids within my yard. Like a dog needs training of who's going to be the leader, sometimes the chickens need clarity too.

 

[333113]

I think I figured out the issue. When she was biting me, I was wearing shorts. The last few days I’ve gone out in long pants with no issue. This morning I went out in shorts and the biting started again.

I used to have a plaid shirt with red in it. That set off most of the birds, not to attacking me, but they would make that worried sound and touch the shirt's red lines gently with their beaks. When I didn't wear it no one made the worried sound. I really think they thought I was bleeding!
I've had some roosters react badly to red shirts, especially if I reached into a family cage, but they have no reaction to any other color.
I often think that this is why farmers tend to wear blue jeans.