Aggressive hen, I'm talking about you Doodle 😒

[Weeg]

In the last few weeks, Doodle has become more and more aggressive. It started with being overly curious when I went into the run, and slowly advanced to mild pecking. I started pecking her back since she seemed to become more confident. In the last week she'd peck my pants occasionally, my boots, and if I sat down in the run she'd run over and peck my legs. I pecked her back, but not sure it discouraged the behavior. Today I realized I need to do something different. I came into the run to test a new Etsy product on the bantams. She wouldn't leave me alone. It wasn't edible, and she was angry. If I turned my back or stopped blocking her, she'd jump and grab my pants and leg and bite hard! I was wearing black pants, so that was't the issue. I started blocking her with my boot, and eventually put her in her side like I do with aggressive roosters. She was unfazed. Same crazy behavior when I let her up. She even did jumped at my boots a couple times as if she was trying to to flog me. This isn't acceptable. It got to the point were I had to give her a handful of feed or she wouldn't leave me alone.
Originally I assumed its because she's hungry. For those of you who don't know, Doodle is my pet Cornish X. I've been feeding her about 1/2c of food in the morning, and 1/4c-1/3c in the evening. I usually feed her in the coop to discourage the others from eating with her since there isn't a great area to separate her. I usually hang around until she's done eating to make sure she gets enough. She seems to be a good weight. Even a bit beefier than my other hens, but still in an acceptable weight range.
Any suggestions? I've never dealt with this much/this determined aggression before. Thanks for any help.

 

[FeatheredFriends&Horses2]

It seems to me that you have a hen with a dominant personality who has decided that aggression leads to more food. Personally, if I were dealing with her, I’d put on some heavy duty clothes that she will have a hard time hurting you through and you don’t mind potentially getting torn whenever you go to the coop, and when she attacks you, completely ignore her. Don’t engage in any form or fashion , just continue what you’re doing. Stay in the coop until she looses interest and walks off, then stay for several minutes after that. Then just leave. After a few rounds (or more, depending on how strong willed she is), she should get it through her skull that you are bigger and stronger and there is nothing she can do to force you to make any action at all, and she should drop the attitude . Honestly, were she a roo, I’d probably get rid of it since they can cause some pretty serious damage, but a Cornish x hen without spurs usually isn’t quite as big a threat. If you do feel that she poses a risk to someone’s safety though, I’d consider removing her from your flock.

 

[Weeg]

It seems to me that you have a hen with a dominant personality who has decided that aggression leads to more food. Personally, if I were dealing with her, I’d put on some heavy duty clothes that she will have a hard time hurting you through and you don’t mind potentially getting torn whenever you go to the coop, and when she attacks you, completely ignore her. Don’t engage in any form or fashion , just continue what you’re doing. Stay in the coop until she looses interest and walks off, then stay for several minutes after that. Then just leave. After a few rounds (or more, depending on how strong willed she is), she should get it through her skull that you are bigger and stronger and there is nothing she can do to force you to make any action at all, and she should drop the attitude . Honestly, were she a roo, I’d probably get rid of it since they can cause some pretty serious damage, but a Cornish x hen without spurs usually isn’t quite as big a threat. If you do feel that she poses a risk to someone’s safety though, I’d consider removing her from your flock.

Awesome, thank you! I think she’ll get it eventually, I just need a strategy. Your absolutely right, she’s bring bossy and knows she can get good out of the deal.

 

[aart]

She's Hangry!

 

[Weeg]

She's Hangry!

Most definitely!

 

[Egghead_Jr]

My first chickens I spoiled rotten giving treats everyday. A few would exhibit the same behavior. Pulling on my pant leg like I was a cracked corn dispenser.

 

[DonyaQuick]

It got to the point were I had to give her a handful of feed or she wouldn't leave me alone.

Oh no - that's a reward for being nasty. Definitely don't give her extra feed for being mean!

It is possible to train chickens out of some bad behaviors although it takes time and repetition. My chickens are all sweet and kissy-poo with me now but one in particular, Cuddles, started out as a compulsive face biter when she was a chick. She was still super friendly and always wanted hugs, but hugs usually put her in biting range eventually and then she just had bite my cheek or something. I had to train Cuddles over the course of a couple months by putting a hand over her head and setting her down straight away if she went in for the bite. It was a slow process but it worked; she's face safe now.

Unfortunately I'm not sure there's a way to exactly do the removal-of-desired-thing reinforcement strategy with Doodle and food the way I was able to get Cuddles to stop biting by setting her down. FeatheredFriends&Horses2 has some really good suggestions though. Ignoring Doodle when she's being cranky (which would be not delivering a good thing at all rather than removing one) will hopefully let her learn that it doesn't get her anything.

 

[Weeg]

Thank you all! I'm going to start ignoring her from now on. I appreciate all the tips.