Hello new to BYC, need help

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christianemmel

christianemmel

Hatching
7 Years
Dec 4, 2012
2
0
9
Hello:

I have two hens that were given to me about two months ago, by someone that had them for the first 16 months of their lifes, they are both Plymouth Rocks and at first their were great, friendly and curious as most Plymouth Rocks are. I live in the San Fernando Valley area of the Los Angeles County, about 3 weeks ago they stopped laying eggs, I am sure it is due to a colder weather change in temperature. I would appreciate your feedback regarding the egg laying situation, however the biggest problem I have encountered is that one of them has become very aggressive this last week, although she lets me close to her to clean their cage, if I get to close she will bite. By the way their new home is about 5 feet wide by 9 feet long and their coop is attached outside of the cage for them to have a larger area. Can anyone help me figure this out? I am afraid if she continues with her aggressive behavior she will have to become dinner, since my little nephews and nieces come to visit often. Appreciate your help and glad to have join this group.

Christian
 
Yes I'd get rid of her if you have little ones around. Eyes! Chickens can damage eyes.

There is a way to fix aggression for YOU to handle her- every time she comes at you, grab her and hold her down on the ground so that she is forced to lie on the ground (but so that she is just lying on her abdomen, not on her side). Hold her there for several seconds and say nothing. Then let her go.

This tells her that you are above her in the pecking order. No hen will allow another hen to display aggression without a return demonstration of being higher in the pecking order unless she is lower in the pecking order.

This doesn't hurt the hen but lets her know that you are above her and that you won't tolerate any nastiness from her. You will have to be consistent and do it every time she even thinks about pecking you.
 
Hello and welcome to BYC
frow.gif
My hens sometimes gets very aggressive when they are broody. Are you sure your hen isn't broody maybe?
 
Thanks everyone for your welcoming and replies, it never ceases to amaze me how nice people are. @Chickensaresweet, great idea, I will try it and reply on progress. @ the broody comments, been that I am new to this, I had to look this up, and found this blog, http://blog.mypetchicken.com/2012/02/01/what-is-a-broody-hen/, well after reading the blog and comparing to my hen I am pretty sure she is not broody, actually I figure something this morning, since I got them and not been conscious of the pecking I realized I have been helping them dig and look for worms, bugs, etc, well to call their attention if they were not close I used my hands, specially my fingers to point to where the goodies were, and it came to me like lightning that maybe since they have found scrubs that are almost as big as my fat fingers, she is confusing my fingers with food (this is where we all laugh) actually the look on her face when she looks at my fingers the same way I look when I am looking at a burger (this is another laughing moment). Anyhow, thanks everyone and will update after I try to hold her down if she does not bike the living cr*p our of my hands...
 
Hi from west Tennessee, I love all the information I get even from reading intros!! Happy Chicken days!
 

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