Help! one of my chickens is biting me hard

[ArmyWife]

I bought 5 chickens from a farm store. One of them is larger than the others, white with tints of yellow, and I do not know the breed of this one. She has always been the sweetest! perches on my arm, wants me to pet her, eats from my hand....She has been more of a pet than I ever expected, but now that she is about 17 weeks old, she is super friendly or mean! Never know what to expect from her. She chases me in the yard and bites me on the leg so hard that I bleed! She has bitten my son on the lip once a while back. Should I be concerned? Is this normal behavior for a chicken?

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Some hens are more aggressive than others.

Here's what you do:

Never trust her with your children even if she appears to be nice.

EVERY time she comes after you or even thinks about it, grab her! Hold her down with both hands so she has to sit on the ground. Don't say anything. Hold her there for several seconds. Then, let her go.

If she turns around and tries to peck you, take your hand and "peck" her with your hand on the back of the neck or her back.

A chicken never allows another chicken to peck or chase or even glare at her without going after her in return, unless she is lower in the pecking order.

If you show your dominance EVERY time she challenges you (because that is what she is doing), then you are now the top hen.

I am the top hen in my chicken yard. If a hen walks up to me and glares at me when I'm sitting down, she is challenging me and I grab her/hold her down or "peck" her back with my hand to show her that I am the top hen. I have to do this every few days with some of my Buff Orpingtons (I have 26 of them) and some of those hens are just incredibly determined to be above me! Most of the chickens that I have had don't need this treatment.

I have been there, done that with pecking hens. This works for me, but if she is not affected by this treatment then I'd cull her or rehome her. Chickens can peck eyes and with children it's not worth the risk.

(By the way, I never harm/injure my hens. In the next instant they come up to me for cuddles/lap time when I sit in the chair. They just test me, is all.) They are my pets and I never hurt them.

 

[ChickSter99]

Some hens are more aggressive than others.

Here's what you do:

Never trust her with your children even if she appears to be nice.

EVERY time she comes after you or even thinks about it, grab her! Hold her down with both hands so she has to sit on the ground. Don't say anything. Hold her there for several seconds. Then, let her go.

If she turns around and tries to peck you, take your hand and "peck" her with your hand on the back of the neck or her back.

A chicken never allows another chicken to peck or chase or even glare at her without going after her in return, unless she is lower in the pecking order.

If you show your dominance EVERY time she challenges you (because that is what she is doing), then you are now the top hen.

I am the top hen in my chicken yard. If a hen walks up to me and glares at me when I'm sitting down, she is challenging me and I grab her/hold her down or "peck" her back with my hand to show her that I am the top hen. I have to do this every few days with some of my Buff Orpingtons (I have 26 of them) and some of those hens are just incredibly determined to be above me! Most of the chickens that I have had don't need this treatment.

I have been there, done that with pecking hens. This works for me, but if she is not affected by this treatment then I'd cull her or rehome her. Chickens can peck eyes and with children it's not worth the risk.

(By the way, I never harm/injure my hens. In the next instant they come up to me for cuddles/lap time when I sit in the chair. They just test me, is all.) They are my pets and I never hurt them.

I'm glad you posted this. I have some GSL that are only 7 weeks old but they are pretty bossy. One will always snatch stuff not matter how high I hold it she's going to jump to try. I usually just give her a quick shove (I don't hurt her) and I make sure that she is not the first to get whatever I have (sometimes it isn't even a treat). She never goes after any of us (except the dog & ducklings). All of my hens are belly bumping right now so it's hard to tell who's top.

 

[ArmyWife]

thank you for the advice! I think this is exactly what she is doing! I'm so thankful my 4 year old is alright! Now I know not to let him inside with her! They are just at that age where they are challenging the other chickens too. Pecking order really makes sense! I sure wish I could figure out what kind of chicken she is. I'll post a pic but may be too hard to tell. She has slightly yellowish tint in some of her white feathers.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/CGP/Rocks/BRKRocks.html
I'm going to take a total guess that she could be a White Plymouth Rock- but I have not had that color Rock. So it is just a guess. If you scroll down in the link it shows a pic of a white one.

 

[ChickSter99]

I have a WPR & she is the sweetest thing. Yours does kinda look like one. Glad your son was not hurt very bad. You have the right idea by keeping him out of the pen.

 

[ArmyWife]

She is precious and I have spent time out there with her today. She has not tried to bite today but when she comes up to me i hold her. I noticed when i pet her back she lays down in kind of a submission position, so maybe now that I understand what is going on, I can correct. I was guessing White Plymouth Rock too so interesting that ya'll think the same. She has yellow eyes instead of brown, yellow feet and red ears. and i think a single comb or is it crown? the red thing on top of the head.

 

[ChickSter99]

I'm glad she's responding nicely and not aggressively. Have you tried to let her see her sisters yet? We ended up naming ours Peck-Peck. She would be sweet for a few minutes each time I reintroduced her. Eventually, she just got it. I'm so glad. I was worried we would have to cull. She's one of the sweetest ones now. The comb is on top of the head (pretty sure). I'm still learning too... I've only had chickens since then end of May/ beginning of June.

 

[ArmyWife]

Actually i got all 5 hens together at the same time, and they have always been together since I brought them home. She was the only one who was always off to the side not interacting much with the others. as a tiny yellow chick, she seemed to want to stay with me all the time, followed my voice lol kinda seemed to think i was her real mommy lol! Lately she has pecked some of the others and she is the largest in the flock, but has not harmed the other chickens. In fact, my Leghorn pecks her right back. for the most part, they stay all together and get along. I have 2 Americaunas (1 seems to be a rooster), 1 Leghorn, 1 Red Sex Link, and I think ya'll are correct, Daisy is probably a white plymouth rock.

 

[ChickSter99]

Pecking order seems to be a mean thing to me in the chicken world too. But, I guess, it's necessary in the chicken world. lol.