Aggressive Hen

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I never meant to harm her, just block and push her back. No violence is necessary, just some assertiveness and confidence.

 

[enola]

I guess I should have quoted ........ I was not meaning you meant to harm her. Your suggestion is actually a great idea, old hen.

 

[NCaliChick]

I haven't tried any 'tool' to push back at her yet. I have pushed with my foot if my hands are too full to pick her up. Definitely not kicking, just pushing her away.
It's funny because she squats for me as soon as I reach for her.
I'm not ready to give up yet, but she's pissing me off.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I guess I should have quoted ........ I was not meaning you meant to harm her. Your suggestion is actually a great idea, old hen.

okay, I do read where people will say to kick a chicken, long ago I learned my lesson on that, I broke a hens leg and had to cull her. Thankfully I am older and wiser now.

 

[enola]

The last time I kicked a chicken, I limped for 3 days..... The wall on the other side of the chicken was involved in this act of stupidity.....

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

The last time I kicked a chicken, I limped for 3 days..... The wall on the other side of the chicken was involved in this act of stupidity.....

I guess we all learn the hard way.

 

[enola]

Well, maybe not everybody, but I sure have learned my share of lessons like that.

 

[NCaliChick]

Well, it's been raining here for a few days and we expect more rain for a few more days(yay!), so she's not out and being aggressive. Guess it'll be a little bit before I can try anything new with her.

 

[SIMiller]

I've looked in the forums, and could've missed this particular behavior problem, so forgive me if this has been asked a million times before.
I have 13 chickens, all hens. One from a previous flock (she's like 7 years old), 12 we got all together last summer. They are happy country chickens, and all of them started laying in January. Well, as soon as they started laying, one particular RIR has gotten aggressive towards me. She is perfectly fine with the rest of the flock, doesn't chase cats (like one of my Barred Rocks does!), and is laying. But she has almost drawn blood several times already.
Sometimes, I have attributed it to the pants I'm wearing with patterns/spots. But I can be wearing jeans, and she goes for my hands and arms, too.
I googled it once, and read that I should pick her up or turn her upside down. I've tried both ways. When I reach for her - after she bites me and clings on to me like a tick - she submits. Spreads her wings & squats. I'll carry her all over the yard under my arm for several minutes. I've gently laid her on her back on the ground and held her there for 30 seconds to a minute.
Nothing seems to be working. She runs up to me like all the others do, but you can tell she gets closer & kind of bobs her head like a boxer waiting for a good shot.
I don't have anyone to take her, and I don't have it in me to cull her myself. Any suggestions?

Hi, I was wondering if you ever found a solution to your aggressive hen. I too have been having this issue with one of mine. I have 4 pullets that are 21 weeks old, non the them laying eggs yet. Within the last 2 weeks one of them has started to attack and bite me. It has happened both when I am changing the water in their coop as well as when they are free roaming in our yard. She is at the top of the pecking order but had always been friendly to me in the past. I have tried catching her and carrying her around and that has not helped.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Hi, I was wondering if you ever found a solution to your aggressive hen.  I too have been having this issue with one of mine.  I have 4 pullets that are 21 weeks old, non the them laying eggs yet.  Within the last 2 weeks one of them has started to attack and bite me.  It has happened both when I am changing the water in their coop as well as when they are free roaming in our yard.  She is at the top of the pecking order but had always been friendly to me in the past.  I have tried catching her and carrying her around and that has not helped.

Many pullets get a bit more aggressive as their hormones are surging, and they are getting close to the start lay. I would make her keep her distance, next time push her to the ground into a squat and hold her there for a few seconds, you might get a better response. Most will mellow out after a month or two.