Aggressive Hen?

[Saris]

I have an 11 week old Buff Orpington Hen, who while the runt of the flock is mean. She charges the roosters and goes to peck me anytime I go to pick up any of the hens. Is this something she will grow out of? She has been somewhat of a little scrapper since day one but I thought this was supposed to be one of the better tempered breeds. Any thoughts to help make her nicer?

 

[GitaBooks]

It sounds like your little girl could be a little boy. When roosters are raised together, sometimes the lower class ones, those down in the pecking order, will develop slower and not show the signs of being a rooster, like the large comb or long tail feathers.
Could you post a picture?

 

[Saris]

She is the top left Buff girl. There are two roosters in the pen already. They are both nicer than she is right now.

 

[Saris]

I can get better pictures tomorrow, she is still the smallest one and has zero red in her comb and has the most uniform color of my 3 buffs.

 

[GitaBooks]

Pretty chickens!

Top roosters, in my experience, tend to be nicer than those under them. Those under them tend to try and attack me.

As for the buff in the top left, that looks like a girl. However, the head of the other buff, just below it, looks like it might be a boy.

Like I said, I can't be sure. I'm kind of just guessing.

 

[Saris]

Yeah that is Hot Wings. He, the orange and grey one next to him, and the black and white one in the middle are all boys. I mean, maybe she is just rude, I think the oddest part is that she tries to peck me when I go to pick up the other chicks, could this be a sign that is being over protective like a mama hen instead of being a roo? She doesn't charge the other hens, just the roosters and me.

 

[GitaBooks]

Very odd. I'll bet she makes a good mother.

 

[Saris]

I hope so. I want a self perpetuating flock so it would be awesome if one of my hens wanted to be a mama.

 

[Folly's place]

See how she develops over the next few months. If she's really too aggressive, don't include her in your breeding group. Sometimes hens can also be jerks! Mary