Aggressive hen

[Ericajulie]

i only 3 hens now. 2 australorps and a isa brown. The isa and 1 of the australorps are lovely. They let you pick them up, pat them and feed them y hand, however the other australorp has become really aggressive for some reason. We have never hit them or anything like that but she keeps coming after me, always unprovoked attacks. She pecks hard enough that she has torn my skin and bleed pretty good. And she has started coming after my 4 yr old little sister, now she is terrified. Can anyone help? Is there anything that can be done to stop this behaviour? Getting rid of her isn’t an option. Am desperate.

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

Are you sure she's not a rooster? Hens can be aggressive at times, but it's not as likely. You can teach them not to attack you, but they will attack other people, just not you.

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

I had a hen that was aggressive whenever I entered the run. She would chase me and even try to flog me! I would chase her, making lots of noise and scream, “I am the rooster! I am the rooster!” She eventually knew who was the boss and settled.
I am sure I looked ridiculous, but it worked!
Your hen just needs to know who is the head of the flock....YOU!
Good luck!

 

[chickens really]

Hand feeding can bring on bad behaviour in many animals. Stop hand feeding them and train her to keep her distance.
None of my Birds come into my space. My Cockerel jumped me a week ago and I knocked him to the floor. He now stays away from me.

 

[Shadrach]

i only 3 hens now. 2 australorps and a isa brown. The isa and 1 of the australorps are lovely. They let you pick them up, pat them and feed them y hand, however the other australorp has become really aggressive for some reason. We have never hit them or anything like that but she keeps coming after me, always unprovoked attacks. She pecks hard enough that she has torn my skin and bleed pretty good. And she has started coming after my 4 yr old little sister, now she is terrified. Can anyone help? Is there anything that can be done to stop this behaviour? Getting rid of her isn’t an option. Am desperate.

It reads like she is taking on the role of a rooster. Some hens will do this.
One solution is to get a rooster, but then you will need to deal with his aggression towards you at some point. If your hen sees you as competition then a rooster probably will as well.
Like a rooster, if this hen has taken on the role of flock protector you will never persuade her that she and the hens she is trying to protect are yours. With some patience and care you might be able to persuade her that you should have access to her flock which will allow you to handle her hens.
There are many articles here on dealing with aggressive roosters and to all intents that is what you have.
If you have got to the point where you are hitting or otherwise attempting to fight, or inflict injury and/or fear as others mention then imo at that point you should probably not be keeping chickens.

 

[aart]

i only 3 hens now. 2 australorps and a isa brown. The isa and 1 of the australorps are lovely. They let you pick them up, pat them and feed them y hand, however the other australorp has become really aggressive for some reason. We have never hit them or anything like that but she keeps coming after me, always unprovoked attacks. She pecks hard enough that she has torn my skin and bleed pretty good. And she has started coming after my 4 yr old little sister, now she is terrified. Can anyone help? Is there anything that can be done to stop this behaviour? Getting rid of her isn’t an option. Am desperate.

How old are these birds?

This might work for you but not a 4yo.

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.

 

[Ericajulie]

How old are these birds?

This might work for you but not a 4yo.

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.

They are almost 2 years old. I do reckon she thinks she is the rooster though. She stopped being aggressive towards me but then went to go near her and she pecked me again now i have another bit of skin missing. I hold her on her back and carry her around.under my arm. Not game enough to “peck” her, she just comes back ready to fight.her eyes dilate like crazy and the feathers on the back of her neck stand right up and she tries to puff herself up