Biting Hen under certain circumstances.

[The Tiny Homestead]

I have hens that peck my pants legs when they want to be picked up, which is fine. I spend countless time holding my chickens, and have had up to 3 on my lap at one time. I do have one hen, Braveheart who, back in the spring would occasionally run over and bite my hand while I was picking up Mazie, or another bird. Mazie is second from the top of the pecking order, and Braveheart is next in line. I've had occasions when I would be picking up Braveheart and Mazie would peck her. I would let go of Braveheart and pin Mazie down, and Braveheart would peck Her. When Braveheart bites my hand, I feel like she is acting as the rooster, and protecting a flock-mate. She did it one time when I was picking up Amelia who was the bottom of the pecking order. None of this happens very often, but I just wonder what the dynamics are, and is it assuming the rooster part? Is there such a thing as a chicken psychologist?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I have hens that peck my pants legs when they want to be picked up, which is fine. I spend countless time holding my chickens, and have had up to 3 on my lap at one time. I do have one hen, Braveheart who, back in the spring would occasionally run over and bite my hand while I was picking up Mazie, or another bird. Mazie is second from the top of the pecking order, and Braveheart is next in line. I've had occasions when I would be picking up Braveheart and Mazie would peck her. I would let go of Braveheart and pin Mazie down, and Braveheart would peck Her. When Braveheart bites my hand, I feel like she is acting as the rooster, and protecting a flock-mate. She did it one time when I was picking up Amelia who was the bottom of the pecking order. None of this happens very often, but I just wonder what the dynamics are, and is it assuming the rooster part? Is there such a thing as a chicken psychologist?

The closest thing we have, IMO, to a chicken psychologist would be @Shadrach. He might have some insight into these behaviors and how to deal with them. @Ridgerunner is another.

 

[Shadrach]

I have hens that peck my pants legs when they want to be picked up, which is fine. I spend countless time holding my chickens, and have had up to 3 on my lap at one time. I do have one hen, Braveheart who, back in the spring would occasionally run over and bite my hand while I was picking up Mazie, or another bird. Mazie is second from the top of the pecking order, and Braveheart is next in line. I've had occasions when I would be picking up Braveheart and Mazie would peck her. I would let go of Braveheart and pin Mazie down, and Braveheart would peck Her. When Braveheart bites my hand, I feel like she is acting as the rooster, and protecting a flock-mate. She did it one time when I was picking up Amelia who was the bottom of the pecking order. None of this happens very often, but I just wonder what the dynamics are, and is it assuming the rooster part? Is there such a thing as a chicken psychologist?

There are certain things chickens just don't do and picking each other up is one of them.
One of the reasons chickens don't like getting picked up is they are often picked up with a body grab and this restrains their wings and they don't like that. Most will struggle a bit although some get used to it.
There is only one interaction between chickens where the wings are restrained and that is during mating when the rooster, or sometimes another hen, stands on the others shoulders pinning the wings down.
When you put your hens down, do they shake out their feathers?
The shake is to help the roosters sperm into the oviduct and on it's way to fertilize an egg. They all do this shake after mating as far as I've observed.

If your more senior hens see you pick up another hen and see her do the shake, she thinks you've been having sex with that hen. Hens are quite fussy about which hens should be allowed to mate. Senior hens generally being allowed while junior hens generally discouraged. The chickens want the best genes going forward and a senior hen is senior for a reason.
Hens attacking other hens they don't think should be matting with their rooster is quite common.

This is probably why the attacks happen.
The other possibilty although less likely is the second in command, usually the tribe enforcer thinks from the struggle albeit short, by the hen that's been picked up, that you are hurting the picked up hen.

You can test all this for yourself.
First, does the picked up hen do the shake when you put her down?
If instead of doing the body grab, you slide you hand low down and push against the back of her legs so she steps back onto your hand (it takes a bit of practice) and then put her down, does she still do the shake?

 

[The Tiny Homestead]

Thanks, I hold them for a long time, and there is usually another waiting to be held. They don't often do the shake, but once in a great while. It's when I'm picking another one up, that Braveheart will sometimes come over and bite. I figured it's a protective thing.