QUOTE="dinkbradders, post: 20014487, member: 495310"]Wonder if you are still viewing this thread! What happened, did she calm down, stop or get worse? I am in the exact same situ with my fave chicken that is, still, bottom of the pecking order. She was sweet and developed slower (still no comb at 1) and was our last to lay. She even had an episode of weeks of staggering due to getting stuck between two fences.
Anyway yep she started attacking the kids (after laying), my daughter first 13, my son 9 and then me but never my husband. I tried to do the holding her down thing, pecking her head or picking her up but it just enraged her more. She then went broody for a long time (which actually stopped the attacks as she wouldn't leave the coop but sadly also the eggs) so we took her out daily, more than once and the only thing we could think of doing was swapping the eggs for 2 new chicks
BIG MISTAKE!!! Now she has a purpose to attack with a vengeance. It didn't happen for the first week as she happily, it seemed, let me feed them, or her, and change the water/food but that was Mothers Day and now she attacks 3 or 4 times whilst I am in the coop. I have tried dominating her but it freaks out my other 3 girls so don't like to do it (though a couple of them have intervened and pecked her for pecking me!!!) and freaks out the chicks. I guess she now thinks she is protecting the chicks from me and doesn't reason that I am the one supplying said chicks and food/clean water/worms/sweetcorn lol.
I did take it to heart at first but understand the Mummy instinct but still wonder if there is something that will work. She doesn't appear to tackle my husband but he doesn't have to reach into the nursery to change anything or when he does, to make a point, NOTHING!
I hear she will soon tire of the chicks and kick them out but I worry they are becoming scared of humans (we don't pick them up as don't want her wrath) but I am hoping them won't learn the nasty behavior.
Anyway hopefully we can hear if you had any progress.[/QUOTE]
Hi there! sorry for the delay in responding! I am still here and we did work it out, but it took some time and understanding. Lulu (the feisty Blue Andalusian) is still my favorite hen and a total mama's girl. I learned that pecking me was her way of asking for attention. It took a while, as I'm a bit slow sometimes, lol! I noticed that she actually starts the pecking fairly gently. It's when I ignore her or retaliate by "pecking" her back/ swatting her that she gets enraged and extra angry- then attacks with a vengeance. When she pecks me gently, I pick her up and put her in my lap and she settles right down and is a happy little hen!
I think about that early behavior a lot and am SOOOOO grateful that I took the time to really figure out what was going on with her, rather than culling or staying locked in a really frustrating power struggle. She IS a precocious little brat, lol! but she has a loyal sweetness and really just needs me to pay attention to her... FREQUENTLY, lol!
In your situation, I'm not sure what to advise, especially since picking her up doesn't help and only makes matters worse. In my experience with broodies and their babies, yes... she'll kick them out around 10 weeks and rejoin the flock. From what you've described, she sees you as a threat. Maybe bring her and the babies some mealworms/treats, etc... and make them come to you for them? If she starts getting cranky- abruptly and calmly leave. A few instances of that will perhaps help her understand that cranky attacks mean no goodies! If it works well for you, have your kids do it through a fence so they are safe and won't be attacked.
I'm sorry this is happening to you and your favorite hen! Please keep us posted on how it goes!
Here's my little cuddle chicken recently.
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