Are Orphingtons biters?

[Lori J]

We have had leghorns and barred rocks in the past but they never pecked or tried to bite us, but this group of Orpingtons does both! Is this a common thing that they do? Or did I just get a rough crowd LOL? When I go out to put feed/treats out, or do chores in the backyard, I have to chase them off or they will peck or nip me on my legs.

One in particular is an enthusiastic biter. When my husband was checking out one of their beaks, the most aggressive one pecked him and then it bit his arm and shook it. When that didn’t get much reaction, she jumped at him with her back feet. Another time she was pecking at my dog and she (the dog) rolled over in submission only to have the hen continue to peck her belly. I Shoed her away not knowing whether to laugh or cry at this cross-species miscommunication!

 

[MIchickenlady]

I've had several Orps in the past 6 years and only one hen has been a biter and had to be rehomed. It is strange, she was treated great, with love and treats and yet she was just aggressive by nature. happens. My other orps are sweet as pie, love them.

 

[Ponte]

Mine often pick at my pants when they come up to me but stop when I push them off.

 

[ValerieJ]

I love Orpingtons and they are normal friendly and docile. That being said I have one that has been rather surly since she was a day old, which how I knew to name her Surly. She is about 18 mos now. Last summer at about a year old she began to peck at me. She would chase me down to peck at my boots. We had a struggle of wills for a couple months that always ended up with me winning. When she pecked me, I just picked her up and walked around with her under my arm while I did my chores. She would growl the whole time. We have berry bushes in the run and when I would toss out berries to the chickens, she would growl when she went after hers. I swear she was part tasmanian devil. Sometimes she would walk up to me and look me in the eye with an attitude of "come get me". She is such a character. Well, eventually she got tired of being carried around and gave up. Now if she thinks about it, all I have to do is reach down and pet her on the back. She scoots away.

I often thought this all started because she went broody and I broke her of it. I think she held quite a grudge for a while.

Not sure what to do if they are all that way. You can't carry them all at the same time, but you can carry one. You need a way to show them who is boss.

 

[Peepsi]

Not sure about Orpingtons, but I have a Silver-Laced Wyandotte named Salt who is an enthusiastic biter too. She loves to bite at my hands when I'm cleaning the coop. Every time she bites me, I pick her up and hug her. I've just started this, to see if she'll quit with the pecking. My hubby and I were having chicken soup the other day (made from store-bought rotisserie chicken), and I told him it needs a little more Salt in it.

I always thought Orpingtons were supposed to be the sweet, nice ones. You must have got yours from a breeder who put a little pit bull in their DNA! (Not dissing pit bulls...many are wonderful, kind, and loving.)

 

[Folly's place]

Discourage this behavior! Peck back firmly if you can be fast enough, or carry something, like your feed bucket, a switch, or stick, and move them out of your space. Don't hand feed! Scatter stuff on the ground instead. Wear jeans and shoes or boots, and enforce respect for your personal space at all times. you are the giant who brings food, not a flock member!
A truly nasty bird needs to move elsewhere, with full disclosure. Is she actually a rude cockerel? Rude pullets happen too, so do your best to fix this, or move her on.
Mary

 

[trumpeting_angel]

Like Mary, I was wondering if she is a rooster!

I have 2 Buffys, and one is at the top of the pecking order. When they were forced into the coop by bad weather recently, and the next day our other Buffy had a head injury - I'm sure this was pecking by Big Bird. Our other two, a GL Wyandotte and a Black Australorp, have their own place in the pecking order. The BA is assertive and sometimes seems to lead the flock. No fear of humans. The GLW is submissive and take turns with the little Buffy (Little Bird) being at the bottom.

 

[Folly's place]

I've had pullets who are very bold and want to peck at me, or even jump on me. No way! I firmly discourage this, and the behavior stops after a couple or a very few corrections. I really don't find it cute at all either.
One of my hens is a real witch when she's in a nest box (not broody either!) and will peck very hard when I collect eggs under her. We have chats about it sometimes, and I wear a glove and hold her head to control her obnoxious pecking. She never behaves this way, except in the nest box, but still, what a twit! None of her eggs are going to be hatched, either...
Mary

 

[ValerieJ]

I've had pullets who are very bold and want to peck at me, or even jump on me. No way! I firmly discourage this, and the behavior stops after a couple or a very few corrections. I really don't find it cute at all either.
One of my hens is a real witch when she's in a nest box (not broody either!) and will peck very hard when I collect eggs under her. We have chats about it sometimes, and I wear a glove and hold her head to control her obnoxious pecking. She never behaves this way, except in the nest box, but still, what a twit! None of her eggs are going to be hatched, either...
Mary

I agree it normally wouldn't look cute, but Surly is hugely amusing to me. It's like she was born on the wrong side of the bed. She is doing well now, but another day will come when I will have to pick her up and carry her around for a while to remind her who's the boss.

 

[Folly's place]

I like that name! It fits the hen I just mentioned completely.
Mary