Cochin hen aggression

[redman79]

She's about a year old and has never shown any signs of ill temper but has in the last week or so. She acts like a broody hen would if she was protecting chicks but that's not the case. She's not lingering in the nesting box anymore than usual. She's eating fine and showing no signs of sickness. Any ideas? Pre broody maybe, if that's such a thing?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Aggressive with you or other chickens?

 

[redman79]

Both. She may have been bossy with the others before and I just blew it off because chickens are chickens, but when she puffed up on us and did the wing spread and false charge a couple of times, I was shocked. Never before. The other variable is that I just let our other cochin hatch out 8 chicks for us and they are now going on 7 weeks old and have been out with the flock since 2 weeks old.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I have had other hens go nutty when chicks are about. They will act like they have chicks or even that the chicks are theirs. Two years ago one lonely chick had 3 moms. I would suspect yours is feeling hormonal and maternal and maybe needs to hatch a few herself once she goes broody. Being a Cochin she will be broody at some point, and she's at that age when they are broody the most.

 

[redman79]

I have had other hens go nutty when chicks are about. They will act like they have chicks or even that the chicks are theirs. Two years ago one lonely chick had 3 moms. I would suspect yours is feeling hormonal and maternal and maybe needs to hatch a few herself once she goes broody. Being a Cochin she will be broody at some point, and she's at that age when they are broody the most.

Kind of what I was thinking but it's only our first full year of having a flock and thought I'd search out opinions from those much more wise than us. Appreciate your thoughts. Actually hoping she's going broody as it's so much fun letting them do the hatching and raising for you. We're hooked on this chicken thing. Next is bees