Buff Orpington Suddenly Aggressive

[RWBurrows]

Hi all, I'm wondering if anyone has had a similar experience or can explain what's going on!

Our buff hen is about 5.5 months old. In the past week, she has gotten a bit aggressive towards us. My husband mentioned several times to me that when he would approach the coop, she would charge at him from across the yard and peck him. I laughed and made fun of him, if we're being honest, but yesterday she did it to me twice, and it hurt! She got me once in each foot, and she did run at me from about 20 feet away when I was out near the coop tidying up.

I've always heard that Orpingtons are a gentle breed, and before this week, she was our sweetest, tamest girl. So what's going on? We feel she is almost about to start laying -- also in the last week she started squatting when we approach. Could this be the cause of her temperament change? I hope it's not a permanent change, she's my favorite!

 

[sourland]

Don't let her get away with such behavior. It generally escalates to full out flogging. Firmly but gently force her into submission when she 'attacks'. Can you post a picture of 'her' ?

 

[RWBurrows]

Sure! Here are a few pics I just took. How would you recommend forcing her into submission?

 

[chicks are life]

Yes act like a chicken when she's bad give her a gentle tap with your finger on the neck.

You can also carry a stick so when she comes after you can turn her around and chase her away for 20 or so second chickens have short attention spands.

 

[sourland]

She is indeed a pullet. Right now she has decided that she is in charge. It's up to you to correct that view point. Firmly forcing to the ground or scooping her up in a fish net both tend to subordinate such birds. Such behavior in a pullet/hen is generally more easily modified than in a cockerel/rooster.

 

[RWBurrows]

Thanks very much for the advice! I'll try your suggestions, and hopefully we can nip it in the bud.

 

[bookmiller813]

Thanks very much for the advice! I'll try your suggestions, and hopefully we can nip it in the bud.

Hello, do you have a follow up on this? I am having the same exact issue you mentioned.

 

[aart]

Hello, do you have a follow up on this? I am having the same exact issue you mentioned.

@bookmiller813 Looks like @RWBurrows hasn't been around for a couple years...
but...
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.