Aggressive hen

[Pandaisy]

This year was the first time I took eggs from my own quail and incubated them. 4 out of 6 hatched and 3 were hens. I integrated them with the rest of the flock and everything was fine. Until now...

One of the hens is the most aggressive bird I have ever seen. Her name is Goldie. She literally latches onto her victim of choice and rips out the feathers. Her attacks seem completely random. Some hens are so terrified they hide all the time or take flight whenever Goldie is screeching. I have to say her father was really aggressive towards humans. Maybe she has it in her genes? She even looks like him! Her two sisters are all very gentle and quite, but it is probably because they are cinnamon. I am seriously considering to cull Goldie. She lives in a cat carrier right now and that is just sad. I already put her in a dark room for 24 hours and she was only calm for a couple days. I love her so much but I don't like visiting my birds right now because she attacks everyone and causing mayhem.

 

[Nabiki]

I wouldn't breed her, and it sounds like she can't be in with the other birds. This leaves you the choice of rehoming her or culling her.

 

[Pandaisy]

I wouldn't breed her, and it sounds like she can't be in with the other birds. This leaves you the choice of rehoming her or culling her.

Thank you, my thoughts exactly. I am thinking about giving her and one or two hens she gets along with to my neighbor. But not with a good feeling, as Goldie has no specific victim. It could be anyone. Ugh... it is so hard making the right choice. I hope it is not trauma related. One of my hens, Strawberry, unexpectedly died during the day two weeks ago and I only realized it when I was feeding them later that day. They had to walk passed the dead bird the whole day.

 

[FloorCandy]

She may just be a mean bird. Sometimes you can adjust the pecking order tho. I had such good luck with the vinegar water squirt bottle in deterring aggression when combining, I used it on my hen who claimed and guarded the nest box. She wouldn’t let anyone else in there, and was quite mean about it, no one was injured, but she stood in the entryway and pecked at anyone who tried to go in. I started watching and squirting her when she tried to run off the others, and now I often see a whole bunch of them in there with her. She needed some losses to take her down a notch.

 

[shrimpsilkies]

I have a nasty hen who attacks my hands and any quail that I pick up, making that awful clicking kr kr kr kr kr noise. She isn’t as violent as that though. I’ve tried separating mine and she still was mean. I think culling or giving away may be best choice here.

 

[Pandaisy]

I am going to try and keep her with a friend in my basement. It is a living area. Can you keep quail in pairs? Goldie has a very rare color and I would hate to let her go.

 

[shrimpsilkies]

Sure. I actually did keep my one mean hen with her big sister, the only one she didn’t beat up. If you can find her a friend, much better than being alone.

 

[Pandaisy]

I renovated the shed which is connected to the aviary, thank God I have this thing. But hornets moved in this spring and I completely forgot about it. My old flock moved in with two babies and it is finally peaceful again! They are all very sensitive and went right to sleep. Goldie stays outside with the brown hens. It is going well so far. Thank you all for the great tips!

 

[2020Chickadee]

She may just be a mean bird. Sometimes you can adjust the pecking order tho. I had such good luck with the vinegar water squirt bottle in deterring aggression when combining, I used it on my hen who claimed and guarded the nest box. She wouldn’t let anyone else in there, and was quite mean about it, no one was injured, but she stood in the entryway and pecked at anyone who tried to go in. I started watching and squirting her when she tried to run off the others, and now I often see a whole bunch of them in there with her. She needed some losses to take her down a notch.

I think I read this story before and applied it to one of my suddenly aggressive hens. It worked like a charm! I didn't have a spray bottle but I sat out there for hour spurts over two days and would give her a light push anytime she decided to get aggressive. I'd still say she's a grumpy bird, but she no longer goes on attack sprees for no reason. So thank you for the tip! OP, I do recommended trying floorcandies method before giving up on your girl.

 

[Pandaisy]

I think I read this story before and applied it to one of my suddenly aggressive hens. It worked like a charm! I didn't have a spray bottle but I sat out there for hour spurts over two days and would give her a light push anytime she decided to get aggressive. I'd still say she's a grumpy bird, but she no longer goes on attack sprees for no reason. So thank you for the tip! OP, I do recommended trying floorcandies method before giving up on your girl.

Thank you for your reply! I already found a solution. I have enough space to form two groups now. My old flock consists of really chill birds who just want to have their peace. The brown hens are all very energetic and quite feisty. Goldie fits in perfectly with them. But if there is trouble again I am going to use the spray bottle!