Aggressive chicken

[Animalsanctuary10]

Hello I have a Rhode Island Red chicken that is approximately 25 weeks old that has recently started being “aggressive” and trying to test me. She started off being the friendliest chick and I would be able to pet her and she would also walk right up to me but now her friendliness has turned to aggression and now she’ll walk up to me and will literally stand on my feet and peck my legs and if I try to pet her she’ll attack my hand. And she even just tried to “square up to me” and I’m trying to find ways to teach her than I’m the alpha and I have tried picking her up and cuddling her but she just comes right back and then I tried lightly kicking her/pushing her away but that also doesn’t him. Any suggestions? I’ve also noticed that she’s kind of an outsider in her flock like she has started roosting outside by herself and doesn’t really graze with the rest of the flock.

 

[azygous]

The way chickens show one another that they are displeased with a behavior of an individual is to peck her on the back of the neck. They get the message.

We can replicate this discipline style by pecking a naughty chicken with out finger. Try it. It works.

 

[sourland]

Kicking at/pushing generally causes them to react with more aggression. I would try forcing her firmly to the ground until she stops resisting. If her aggressive behavior continues or increases a fly swatter can be a good teaching tool.

 

[LaFleche]

The nares of the pullet in your photo seem to be obstructed and should be cleared right away.

Coming right up to you and demanding attention and food by stepping on your shoes and pulling the leg of your trousers is quite normal to pullets/hens that are used to being around humans. Sometimes they even fly up to the shoulder or arms to be the first able to see what's in the food bowl.

Do not kick your chickens, this is harmful to them.

 

[LaFleche]

How to clear clogged nostrils: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/clogged-nostrils.937614/

 

[Folly's place]

'Friendly' is often actually 'bold', very pushy, and this is your story here.
Absolutely deal with here nostril issue; any sneezing?
Have her respect your space, but kicking at her isn't how to manage it. Rather, carry a stick or some such arm extender, walk around out there, and move her out of your path as you just happen to walk through her space.
Don't let her get that close, or on you, without a clear invitation from you.
Petting from above is a dominant gesture, and she's correcting your behavior, because she's in charge out there.
You are the giant who brings food, not a flock member to push around!
Is she also very pushy with her flockmates? Any adult hens out there? In a mixed age flock, with adults, the youngsters learn better social skills and are generally more polite all around. At least that's been true here.
Our experiences with hatchery RIRs and production reds has been that they do tend to be pushy, especially with their flockmates. We haven't had any for a long time.
Mary

 

[aart]

Peck her 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.