Are my Chickens beyond HELP?

[Daisy June]

That's so bizarre. Good luck! I'm sure someone will take young Easter Eggers that are laying. Maybe they'll calm down in a different environment? Easter Eggers usually have great temperaments.

If someone says they want them, the new owners do need to know what has been happening in case they do not want to take that on.

 

[WingItRanch]

If someone says they want them, the new owners do need to know what has been happening in case they do not want to take that on.

Yes, I agree. Always be honest and warn new owners if any aggressive behaviors.

 

[Labsandchickens8]

Hi Everyone. I am wondering if anyone would be able to tell me if my chickens, and their behavior, is beyond hope, as I am at my wits end.
I have had many hens in the past and still a few as of now, who are tame, laid-back (no pun intended), and just sweet as you could want with chickens. No problems with holding them, touching or feeding them....HOWEVER....
Last year I got 4 Easter Egger hens and they just turned 1 year old. All white chickens, 3 lay blue eggs and the other green. They started out fine, like the others and trained well. But the past 6 1/2 months has been "chicken nightmare hell". They fly and jump onto the fence as soon as they see you coming toward the yard, all in hopes of attacking you. When inside the yard, they are attacking your shoes, feet, legs, hands, flying up to attack you face and chest and arms. They are absolutely insane! If you reach down to try to pick one up or anything else in the chicken yard like the dishes, etc, they will attack your hands and actually draw blood. They are well fed, extremely healthy chickens and there is absolutely no excuse why they should be acting like this. They will puff up, wings outstretched and standing tall while attacking. You would absolutely think they were roosters instead of hens by the way of their behavior. For over 6 months now I have done everything I can think of to try to tame them down, all to no avail. The best method that worked some (at least enough to go inside the chicken yard to ward them off from attack) is when I take a long tree stick with me and ward them off as they are a little afraid of the stick. But it does not help much. They are starting to fight with my tame hens and trying to control territory inside the coop. I honestly cannot take it anymore of getting bloody and bruised by these hens when just going into the yard to do daily routine of feeding, cleaning, etc.
My chicken yard is completely enclosed with fence and hardware wire (even overhead) to keep out all critters and birds. I do have trouble with rats and am at a constant battle of trapping and killing those without harm to the hens. But that is at night well after the hens are locked inside their coop. The coop is completely rat proof and predator proof as well.
If anyone knows of any methos I can try with these terrible nasty hens, please let me know. I would be most grateful. They are excellent egg layers and I truly hate to get rid of them, but it has come down to me or them when they are wanting to just tear into me and my family for flesh and blood.
Are they worth keeping and trying to tame or is it best to cut them lose before they damage me, my family or my other tame hens?
Thank you all for you help.

Oh my gosh I would get rid of them so fast! They're animals that you have tried your absolute best to take care of. There's no excuse for this. Don't make the rest of your poor chickens suffer - or your family!

 

[horselover1999]

I agree. Please do not rehome these birds, they could hurt somebody. I would also let TSC know about them, hopefully they won't source EE from whatever hatchery they got them from again.

TSC has a long standing deal with Hoovers Hatchery. I don't think they even know or have control over what breeds arrive each week.

I rehomed an aggressive cockerel a few weeks ago and I made sure to say that he had been aggressive since he was 2 days old. I made sure his new owner knew what she was getting into.

 

[Bawkbok]

TSC has a long standing deal with Hoovers Hatchery. I don't think they even know or have control over what breeds arrive each week.

I rehomed an aggressive cockerel a few weeks ago and I made sure to say that he had been aggressive since he was 2 days old. I made sure his new owner knew what she was getting into.

I'm sorry you had to give up your boy but happy for you and him that you found someone willing to accept that responsibility. A happy ending.

 

[PrettyBirdRocky]

Hi Everyone. I am wondering if anyone would be able to tell me if my chickens, and their behavior, is beyond hope, as I am at my wits end.
I have had many hens in the past and still a few as of now, who are tame, laid-back (no pun intended), and just sweet as you could want with chickens. No problems with holding them, touching or feeding them....HOWEVER....
Last year I got 4 Easter Egger hens and they just turned 1 year old. All white chickens, 3 lay blue eggs and the other green. They started out fine, like the others and trained well. But the past 6 1/2 months has been "chicken nightmare hell". They fly and jump onto the fence as soon as they see you coming toward the yard, all in hopes of attacking you. When inside the yard, they are attacking your shoes, feet, legs, hands, flying up to attack you face and chest and arms. They are absolutely insane! If you reach down to try to pick one up or anything else in the chicken yard like the dishes, etc, they will attack your hands and actually draw blood. They are well fed, extremely healthy chickens and there is absolutely no excuse why they should be acting like this. They will puff up, wings outstretched and standing tall while attacking. You would absolutely think they were roosters instead of hens by the way of their behavior. For over 6 months now I have done everything I can think of to try to tame them down, all to no avail. The best method that worked some (at least enough to go inside the chicken yard to ward them off from attack) is when I take a long tree stick with me and ward them off as they are a little afraid of the stick. But it does not help much. They are starting to fight with my tame hens and trying to control territory inside the coop. I honestly cannot take it anymore of getting bloody and bruised by these hens when just going into the yard to do daily routine of feeding, cleaning, etc.
My chicken yard is completely enclosed with fence and hardware wire (even overhead) to keep out all critters and birds. I do have trouble with rats and am at a constant battle of trapping and killing those without harm to the hens. But that is at night well after the hens are locked inside their coop. The coop is completely rat proof and predator proof as well.
If anyone knows of any methos I can try with these terrible nasty hens, please let me know. I would be most grateful. They are excellent egg layers and I truly hate to get rid of them, but it has come down to me or them when they are wanting to just tear into me and my family for flesh and blood.
Are they worth keeping and trying to tame or is it best to cut them lose before they damage me, my family or my other tame hens?
Thank you all for you help.

I know I'm late to the party, what other breeds do you have? Sorry if mentioned in another post.

We had 4 buff orpingtons --who are supposed to be the sweetest ever-- 3 of the 4 started attacking every chicken. I quickly snatched them up after second day and rehomed them. Instant calm over the flock after I removed them.

We did have 2 olive Eggers who had BCM in them who were NUTS! Rehomed.

Not all of every breed is as they fortell lol we have an EE who is half leghorn and is so flighty! Yet calm. So personalities vary.

We even have some bossy Brahmas now, gesh lol

I hope you figured out a solution and calm descended. Good luck if you try different ones again!

 

[Bawkbok]

We had 4 buff orpingtons --who are supposed to be the sweetest ever-- 3 of the 4 started attacking every chicken.

We have 3 BOs and 2 of them are bossy, and pick and peck on the other one unnecessarily and also harass the CQ who is the nicest bird. One of the BOs I would classify as mean but they haven't attacked, just super pecky and pushy. These two are NOT quiet, very clucky and loud. The 3rd one is very quiet, calm, pleasant to be around. Such a variance in behavior and demeanor. I won't rehome them as the situation is manageable and they are prolific layers. Just interesting how breed dynamics present such a wide spectrum of personalities.

 

[KyCoop]

I would definitely put them in chicken jail where they will only be able to terrorize each other. They might learn to not be little monsters.
Something is off about them.