Angry Hen - Help!

[Hwoold]

Hello,
We have 3 hens that are 4 months old. Lemon, a Columbian Wyandotte -pictured, has been really sweet up until 2 days ago. She was getting her usual pets by my husband when all of a sudden she decided she didn't want them and pecked at him. No big deal, but then she proceeded to try to chase him. Since then, anytime we go into the coop, she runs over agressively and is pecking at our legs, feet, hands if they are low and running and jumping at us. We have picked her up and checked her over for any injuries and she is well. She is eating and drinking fine too. From watching the flock, I do not believe she is the head hen, we had thought she was low girl on the totem pole all these months. Can someone please advise why she might be doing this all of a sudden and if there is anything we can do to make it stop? Thank you!

 

[esme13]

Has she started to lay eggs ? It is very peculiar that behavior. I’m hoping someone else can advise.

 

[Hwoold]

Has she started to lay eggs ? It is very peculiar that behavior. I’m hoping someone else can advise.

No, no eggs yet. I am hoping too! It is polar opposite from how she has been and happened so drastically.

 

[esme13]

Have you tried approaching her with treats a positive enforcement?

 

[Hwoold]

Have you tried approaching her with treats a positive enforcement?

Yup! She gets plenty treats and eats them happily by hand.

 

[aart]

Peck her back!

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.