Do chooks get PMT?

[Nonny]

One of my Australorps got her red flush to the comb and wattle last week and since then she's had a bit of a personality change that got worse today after she laid her first eggs.

She's become very pushy with me, her walk looks more like a haughty swagger, she's more vocal, goes chest to chest with the other two girls and pushes them around and beats them to the food, and if I'm not quick enough with her "treats" she's jumping at me to snatch them out of my hand. Today she bit my lip in a rush to grab the food as I was crouching down to feed them (or perhaps she was going for my eyelashes, and I pulled my head back just in time).

Is this just that she's more familiar with me now (I've had her for just on 6 weeks now) and has decided I'm lower in the pecking order, or is this a normal thing due to the rush of hormones as she was preparing to start laying? And if it's normal, will she settle back down again or is this just her emerging personality?

Any ideas?

 

[Tala]

Mine usually get friendlier AFTER they start to lay. Could just be the hormones and she'll settle down

 

[chkinut]

same here, mine get friendlier too.

 

[MommaOrp]

my blue orp murtle has just come into lay again as she's getting on a bit, just recently before the eggs appeared, she has been attacking any other chook if they go near her, especially the roo's! now we've recieved an egg or 3 she seems to have calmed down a tad but she's feisty natured anyway's

 

[Nonny]

Oh dear! It looks like my girl might not have inherited the usual placid nature of her breed. LOL Ah well.... if I can handle a feisty pre-teen then I guess a bolshy chicken shouldn't be too hard.

Here she is!