Female is aggressive towards me but not my spouse

[JGould86]

Hey everyone,

I am a first time chicken owner living out in New Mexico. I have 3 ayam cemani birds (2 female one male) who are around 5 months old. I incubated and hatched them, handled them daily and got them used to me. My problem in the last 2 months or so is that one of the females (who previously was the one most affectionate with me) is becoming very aggressive with me but oddly enough she isn't aggressive with my spouse. When he goes in the coop she'll give him a little curious peck and move on ( if he is in the coop with me she isn't aggressive) however if I go in alone she comes at me and any exposed skin and often will break skin while biting and pecking at me. I'm not sure how to deal with this issue, I bring them treats, handle them and keep the food/water full and clean. The rooster isn't aggressive and the other female has no interest in humans but this one is giving me a lot of trouble. Any advice?

Thanks so much.

 

[SunHwaKwon]

It could be a respect/dominance thing.

Does he have any exposed skin within pecking reach when he goes out there?

 

[JGould86]

It could be a respect/dominance thing.

Does he have any exposed skin within pecking reach when he goes out there?

He will bend down and she will peck at his hand looking for food but not in the way she goes after me.

 

[andreanar]

I had a hen name Joan, that harassed me terribly. She would go around behind me and grab and twist my skin. I would push her away, but shed just keep coming back.. I used to peck her head or beak when she bit me, but I never was successful at getting her to stop. She never did this to anyone else. Is your girl laying yet? Maybe shes just being a weird, hormonal pol pullet?

 

[JGould86]

I had a hen name Joan, that harassed me terribly. She would go around behind me and grab and twist my skin. I would push her away, but shed just keep coming back.. I used to peck her head or beak when she bit me, but I never was successful at getting her to stop. She never did this to anyone else. Is your girl laying yet? Maybe shes just being a weird, hormonal pol pullet?

I don't think she is laying yet, they start at around 7 months. I've asked some family who also raise chickens and they think she might be getting hormonal and for some reason seeing me as a threat or something. It's very odd as she was the sweetest and the one I always spent just a bit more time cuddling with.

 

[lazy gardener]

I would give her the same treatment I would provide to a roo who was crossing appropriate behavior lines. Keep her at arms length at all times. Never walk around her, walk through her, if she comes within arm's length, purposefully walk through her to make her move. Chase her. Would you allow a dog to bite you? The same rules hold true for chickens. Aggression should not be tolerated no matter what the gender or species.

 

[JGould86]

I would give her the same treatment I would provide to a roo who was crossing appropriate behavior lines. Keep her at arms length at all times. Never walk around her, walk through her, if she comes within arm's length, purposefully walk through her to make her move. Chase her. Would you allow a dog to bite you? The same rules hold true for chickens. Aggression should not be tolerated no matter what the gender or species.

I've tried this approach as well as the treat approach and both ways she still remains incredibly aggressive towards me. I've also tried to startle her to make her get out of the way as she tries to leave by running out of the coop door when I exit and she doesn't even flinch, she's like mega hen super villain haha.

 

[lazy gardener]

Time for chicken soup.

 

[JGould86]

Time for chicken soup.

Haha if they weren't so expensive a breed and I had more than just the two females I might think on that. But I am trying to breed them and that means keeping as many breeding females around as I can for now.