Arizona Chickens

[MagicChicken]

I need a bit of advice. We got our first egg Thursday out of 4 RIR's who are just 20 weeks old. That same day one of our girls (Dottie) presumably #3 in the pecking order started attacking us. She went after my calves sort of following and pecking when she saw fit. I scolded her pretty hard. Since then she has gotten more aggressive each day. She now stalks as you walk through the yard and sets up to peck you. Today I was carrying a roll of chicken wire and she got me in the shin, really hurt and near enough to draw blood. I couldn't react since I was burdened with the load. She did go after me and my husband both after that shin peck and we both gave her a good swoosh with the foot to get her back, let her know who is in charge, and that her behavior will not be tolerated.

I refuse to have a chicken peck me. My best friend and #1 babysitter now lives in fear of Dottie. It's hard enough to find someone to watch them, you don't want them to be intimidated by them.

She started out as being the fastest grower and bigger chicken of the 4. The rest caught up to her in size, but they have all matured much earlier. They are 20 weeks and the other 3 have fairly red and rapidly growing combs and wattles. Dot on the other hand has a significantly smaller comb and it is still VERY pink pale.

After her two disciplines she squawked the rest of the late afternoon and evening, not like we have heard before, just really drawn out complaints. Every time hubby was even near her vicinity, she ran the other direction. I don't know why she started this pecking thing. I keep wondering if she is a roo in disguise but she would be so much more developed, or maybe a unisex?? LOL!

Anyone have experience with an attack chicken? Other than spanking her down, any advice to curb this behavior?

I want to know this too. We have a leghorn that started attacking us after having her a year. I think it started when one of the older hens died. I pick her up and carry her around and she quits for the day but every morning she starts up again. She is really going after us, not just pecking. She is a really good layer, but I don't know if we can put up with this when shorts season really hits.

You can curb that behavior easily by converting them into soup. Just saying.

 

[jubilation]

If you don't have any roos then your hen is trying to establish herself as head honcho and sees you as a threat to her and the flock. In other words, she is taking over duties and characteristics of a roo, showing the other girls that she's got the stuff to be head of the flock. She will eventually lord it over all the other hens unless you can stop the behavior. The only way to do this is to quarantine her by herself for a period of time, at least a couple of weeks, and let the pecking order change. You will need to establish yourself as top dog with her. All feed & water is up to you to dispense, along with rewarding with treats for good behavior. Grabbing her beak, gently, will establish you as head honcho. Holding the beak on each side for several seconds sends a message that you are in charge. If she tries to peck you, grab her and hold her and then hold her beak and don't let go until she settles down. Good luck.

 

[desertmarcy]

Anyone have experience with an attack chicken? Other than spanking her down, any advice to curb this behavior?

Yes, it is called roast chicken. Seriously, I will not tolerate mean behavior in a chicken. I feed them, clean their pens, give them housing---they are expected to lay eggs in return and provide enjoyment. Attacking is not enjoyment. If you cannot bring yourself to cull this bird, give her to someone who will. And might I ask, are they hatchery Rhode Island Reds? Because the hatchery birds have a reputation for being mean, especially the males. Unlike the real deal, heritage Rhode Island Reds, like I raise, are gentle and not like that at all.

Now if you are determined to try to turn her around, here are a few things to try. First, giving her a boot is just fighting to another chicken. You need to make her submissive. Which means pin her to the ground and hold her there until she stops struggling. Do this every time there is aggression. The other thing you might try is "time out". Every time she does this, lock her up in a small crate, away from her hen friends, for a while. 20 min to an hour or more, in a small crate where she is bored and has nothing to do. You must do this immediately after an attack so she associates the isolation with her behavior. If these things do not work, you know what must be done.

 

[maryhysong]

Thank you, I won't pull it out until I know what it is but my curiosity would like to know now so thought I would ask
Perhaps I will be pleasantly surprised with something delicious this spring or summer???

you might clip a small branch with leaves & flowers and take to the nursery or your nearest Ag extension office for ID

 

[Beckyhsinglsc]

I want to know this too. We have a leghorn that started attacking us after having her a year. I think it started when one of the older hens died. I pick her up and carry her around and she quits for the day but every morning she starts up again. She is really going after us, not just pecking. She is a really good layer, but I don't know if we can put up with this when shorts season really hits.

You can curb that behavior easily by converting them into soup. Just saying.

Yeah, I know, but she is such a good layer and was very friendly before this started. She was always the one following me around hoping I would uncover bugs. I'll try other things first but if we have to go out of town and have a "sitter", she'll either have to go in the small coop by herself or the soup pot, I guess.

kpgoldstar
Let us know how it goes with yours. I'm going to try pinning her and then holding her beak as I carry her around and if that doesn't work, isolation.

 

[kpgoldstar]

Believe me, the first thing that entered my mind was the crock pot, or give her away. She has never shown any interest in being top hen so this comes as a bit of a surprise. I will pin her down and hold her beak if she keeps this up, isolation next, rotisserie as a last resort. She isn't laying yet so she doesn't have that going for her. Marcy they are hatchery RIR's. If I had done more research prior to taking the chicken plunge I would do things differently, a variety of breeds and chicks from breeders. Up until this past few days, everyone is friendly with us and one another. They get handled daily and will jump into my lap and shoulders if I am sitting down. Hopefully this is a short phase for her and she'll be back to her normal self with a little training. Thanks for all the responses. You guys are the best!

 

[Billiam]

My weed eaters hard at work.

 

[kpgoldstar]

No pecks from Dottie today I am glad to report. She even steered shy from me when I tried to pick her up and have a conversation with her. She is squatting too upon reaching for her so showing some submissive behavior.
Bonus!!! We got our 2nd egg today! It has been since Thursday since we had the first one. This one was smaller and more speckled, a little pink compared to the solid light brown one. I took a pic on some new chicken tea towels my friend bought me for watching her cat for a week. I can't wait to crack this one open and see what's inside!! We still don't know who laid the first one and if the same girl laid this egg today. Working all day makes chicken observation impossible

 

[kpgoldstar]

Whoops! Forgot to post the pic!

 

[mom-to-5]

Oh no! I'm missing one of my hens! I was in the back room of the house with the door open due to the lovely weather. My 8 20 week old pullets were free ranging on my 1/2 acre blocked wall yard. When I went to go close up their coop (as I do every night after they put themselves in) I noticed my barred rock, Dolly, was missing. I searched the yard and all my trees for over 2 hours and couldn't find her. I would think if something got her I would have heard a commotion from the others or see feathers strawn about...but nothing, she's just gone. She was my favorite and I'm just hoping that she may turn up in the morning although I know the odds aren't great.
Such a disappointing night? What could have happened to her?