Aggressive chicken

[bethk]

My chickens just started laying, finally. I am getting one egg every other day. So I know it is one of my 6 hens. In the past week one of my hens had become increasingly aggressive. She jumps up and pecks at me when I enter the Coup. Is this normal behavior for a laying hen? I'm not sure if she is laying. If I was sure she wasn't I'd put her out with the foxes!

 

[redsoxs]

Greetings from Kansas, bethk, and

! Pleased you joined us but sorry to hear about your mean hen. I have heard you can pick and carry around aggressive birds - showing them that they are not in charge. You might "aggressive hen" in the search box - I did and a lot of informative threads came up. Good luck to you - hope she tames down.

 

[willowbranchfarm]

Welcome to BYC Glad you joined.

 

[Tough Old Bird]

These are the things I will have to deal with as a newbie, too!

My (very experienced) chicken-keeping friend says she carries her birds around until they settle down, too, particularly in the "gentling" phase of things.

TOB

 

[bethk]

Ok I will try that. This was previously my "friendly" easy to pick up chicken

 

[kidcody]

from washington state glad you joined us!
you didn't mention if you have a rooster or not.....sometimes when you don't have a rooster a hen will take om aggressive behavior....mother nature trying to balance a unbalanced situation..goodluck!

 

[sourland]

No this is not normal hen behavior. Sounds like a spoiled brat chicken that regards you as a subordinate. As others have said there are many threads on addressing aggressive behavior. Stop it now before it becomes worse.

 

[bethk]

I have 2 chickens like your avatar. Speckled Sussex, right?

 

[1muttsfan]

Hi and welcome to BYC from northern Michigan

I am also wondering about your bird - you are sure it is not a rooster?

 

[sumi]

Hello and welcome to BYC

Glad you joined us!