Aggressive Hen

[BeccaNS]

We have three Rhode Island reds, they are 18 weeks old. They are huge pets, my girls carry and hold them constantly. They come up to the door and peak for attention. They follow us in the yard and come running anytime we walk outside. The problem is one of them is getting aggressive with us! Well I guess I'm not sure what she is doing but she keeps peaking us! The other day she got my hand bad enough for it to leave a pretty good bruise. She kept trying to get my daughters feet this morning and when I went to get her off my couch she got me.
Any ideas?

 

[scottcaddy]

We have three Rhode Island reds, they are 18 weeks old. They are huge pets, my girls carry and hold them constantly. They come up to the door and peak for attention. They follow us in the yard and come running anytime we walk outside. The problem is one of them is getting aggressive with us! Well I guess I'm not sure what she is doing but she keeps peaking us! The other day she got my hand bad enough for it to leave a pretty good bruise. She kept trying to get my daughters feet this morning and when I went to get her off my couch she got me.
Any ideas?

Treat her like a puppy who is biting, keeping in mind her size and build.
Just MHO
Scott

 

[BeccaNS]

Ok. Thanks. I will try, just went out and she wouldn't leave me alone, just nonstop trying to peak! I finally just picked her up.

 

[azygous]

Any kind of aversion type discipline works well with chickens.

I have a BO hen that's a terror toward a couple other more timid hens. I have fly swatters in several places so I always have one handy. When this BO gets after one of her victims, I swat her butt with the fly swatter if i'm close enough, or just hold the swatter up in between the BO and the hen she's after. This works splendidly. It doesn't take but a couple days of consistency with your chosen aversion method for it to "take". Water guns or hoses work, and sometimes a loud harsh voice works, too.

 

[BeccaNS]

Thanks!! My husband told me they got sprayed with water earlier because she wouldn't stop going after his feet He said they all ran off which is almost impossible to do. Tonight when I was putting them up she tried again, I just firmly told her no. She backed down so maybe that will work. I don't know what's going on

 

[JaeG]

I've found our Orpingtons who grew up with a lot of attention and handling are not backward about being forward! They will peck me much more than my others do who weren't raised with much handling, not in a mean way but just looking for treats and trying to get my rings or eat my clothes. Yet our bantams that we hatched and raised are sweet and gentle. I'd say she's trying to be top hen and views you as she does her hen buddies. Don't let her get in your space, don't walk round her - make her move out of your way. She needs reminding you guys are the bosses and she is not!

 

[BeccaNS]

When this first started I was amused because I thought she was looking for treats. All three of them are big time all up in our business, when my girls swim that sit in the rocks against the fence (safety fence around the pool ) looking sad. My kids can't even play on the swing set unless the chickens are locked up because the chicks are constantly in the way! My kids enjoy playing with them so I hate the thought of one of them getting an attitude

 

[andreanar]

I had one like this....I called her Joan Crawford. Just bugged me all the time. I never did get her to stop.

 

[kitkat5505]

When I have one that's pecking me or being too mean to another chicken I say "no!" and 'peck' them back, a good firm quick tap with my finger. Since I'm bigger that's enough to make them back off.

 

[BeccaNS]

I'm going to search the forums but how much free range time should they have each day? Right now I always leave them locked up when we are gone and always try for 1-2 hours a day free time min. We do move their house every other day. Some days I let them have the whole day out but seems like when they are out all day by themselves they spend most of the time sitting at my door making pest of themselves. Haha
They seem happiest when we are outside with them but that isn't always possible