Aggressive Hen

[megan13]

For the passed 3 years I've had only one chicken. She's an isa brown named Layla. She was raised with another hen and she was killed by a predator last summer. Since then Layla has not layer a single egg. She has always been so sweet to me. She let me hold her and pet her.
About 6 months ago she started attacking my mom and this past month she started attacking me. She runs after us and pecks our feet. It's like a crazy mood swing. I have experimented with different shoes and I can't find I reason why. We recently got some new chicks (they are 2 weeks old) but not I'm sure that's the reason for the attacks. It really makes me sad because she used to be so nice!
She is kept in coop at night and we let her free range all day on large properity so I don't think its boredom.

Does anyone out there know why she hasn't layed in a long time? Or if she ever will again? Maybe when the baby grow up and she has some friends?
And more importantly how do I get her to stop attacking?

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

I have one hen right now. She's an isa brown named Layla. She was raised with another hen and she was killed by a predator last summer. Since then Layla has not layer a single egg. She has always been so sweet to me. She let me hold her and pet her. About 6 months ago she started attacking my mom and this past month she started attacking me. She runs after us and pecks our feet. I have experimented with different shoes and I can't find I reason why. We recently got some new chick (they are 2 weeks old) but not I'm sure that's the reason for the attacks. It really makes me sad because she used to be so nice! She is kept in coop at night and we let her free range all day on large properity so I don't think its boredom.
Does anyone out there know why she hasn't layed in a long time? Or if she ever will again? Maybe when the baby grow up and she has some friends?
And more importantly how do I get her to stop attacking?

Welcome to BYC!
If I am reading your post correctly, it sounds like Layla was kept as a lone chicken from the time her friend was lost, is that correct? That can be very stressful for chickens as they are a flock animal. Stress can cause a disruption in production and a change in behavior.

 

[megan13]

Yes she was kept alone because we didn't have any other chickens. I don't understand why she started attacking now though. I've always spent a lot of time with her and talked to her. And how do you suggest I stop her for attacking?

 

[megan13]

My main question is how do I stop an angry hen from attacking? Everyone talks about taming mean roosters but what about hens? Is there something I can do to make her love again?