Hen being aggressive to me, and now to new pullets as well. Help!

[Wrightwife]

Hello! I've looked here for info quite a lot over the last year, since I got my first two chickens. But this is my first post!

My question is this: one of my two adult hens (a Silver Laced Wyandotte, other is Barred Rock) has become very testy lately ( for maybe 2 months) to say the least... normally I would have no problem picking them both up and hand feeding them treats. One day, as I was crouched down offering her some tasty greens, she began pecking my hand fiercely, and then tried to jump up and spur my face. Luckily I blocked the attack.

Since then, I have made a point to spend extra time around her in particular, petting, holding and just walking around, never backing down when she tries to peck me. It doesn't seem to have made a difference at all

Now I am in the process of introducing the two new pullets (Easter egger and leghorn, about 8wks old).

I have the older hens and pullets separated by fencing, but allow them to mingle every day in the afternoons with my supervision (it's been about a week of daytime visits)

Testy hen is NOT pleased. She refuses to stop chasing and aggressively pecking and ripping out feathers, and still has a problem with me being around as well.

Is this normal? Is there anything I can do to get her to behave, at least with me?

(Possibly relevant info: hen is still laying normally, none of them show any indication of sickness, and they all have plenty of space, which includes a freerange area that constantly has fresh greens to enjoy, and that is the area the adult hens are in when I'm not supervising introductions)

 

[gtaus]

I am signing on to this thread to see if you get any good advice on correcting this negative behavior of the hen. My instinct would be to cull the hen, but that is probably due to my lack of experience. I really don't want any bad actors in my flock and have planned on harvesting chickens that cause problems for either the other hens or myself.

The only people I personally know around here raise chickens as livestock more so than pets. So unruly birds are quickly harvested or culled as appropriate. If there is a better way, I would like to hear about it.

 

[Wrightwife]

I am signing on to this thread to see if you get any good advice on correcting this negative behavior of the hen. My instinct would be to cull the hen, but that is probably due to my lack of experience. I really don't want any bad actors in my flock and have planned on harvesting chickens that cause problems for either the other hens or myself.

The only people I personally know around here raise chickens as livestock more so than pets. So unruly birds are quickly harvested or culled as appropriate. If there is a better way, I would like to hear about it.

Totally understandable. We don't have the ability currently to have a larger flock than our now 4 chickens, so these first ones are definitely more like pets for me! But my husband and I were discussing "letting her go" if she gets worse. Eventually I'd like to have a large flock with more purpose, both layers and fryers!

 

[New2Chicks97]

I had a PITA hen who was mean to me and most of my other girls. Getting a rooster mellowed all of the girls out and they rarely have squabbles or fights. The hen who always tried to take a chunk out of me also quit her nasty pecking antics too.

We love our boy! He has done wonders for the temperament of our flock.

 

[BlueBaby]

Maybe your mean hen is trying to take the place of a flock rooster, since you don't have one?

 

[aart]

I have the older hens and pullets separated by fencing, but allow them to mingle every day in the afternoons with my supervision (it's been about a week of daytime visits)

I would crate her during these times....give her a time out, see if it helps at all.

 

[WindingRoad]

Hello! I've looked here for info quite a lot over the last year, since I got my first two chickens. But this is my first post!

My question is this: one of my two adult hens (a Silver Laced Wyandotte, other is Barred Rock) has become very testy lately ( for maybe 2 months) to say the least... normally I would have no problem picking them both up and hand feeding them treats. One day, as I was crouched down offering her some tasty greens, she began pecking my hand fiercely, and then tried to jump up and spur my face. Luckily I blocked the attack.

Since then, I have made a point to spend extra time around her in particular, petting, holding and just walking around, never backing down when she tries to peck me. It doesn't seem to have made a difference at all

Now I am in the process of introducing the two new pullets (Easter egger and leghorn, about 8wks old).

I have the older hens and pullets separated by fencing, but allow them to mingle every day in the afternoons with my supervision (it's been about a week of daytime visits)

Testy hen is NOT pleased. She refuses to stop chasing and aggressively pecking and ripping out feathers, and still has a problem with me being around as well.

Is this normal? Is there anything I can do to get her to behave, at least with me?

(Possibly relevant info: hen is still laying normally, none of them show any indication of sickness, and they all have plenty of space, which includes a freerange area that constantly has fresh greens to enjoy, and that is the area the adult hens are in when I'm not supervising introductions)

I was giving my 2SLW fresh blueberries yesterday by hand. They wouldn't take anything by hand from me until the blues. Some were kinda big so I had to break them in half. One of my SLW kept pecking my thumbnail. I don't think it was mean. I think she's crossed eyed. LOL. Silly girl.

 

[Punkybrewster]

I just sent an aggressive black sex link hen to freezer camp. She literally broke through the dividing fence in the run between my flock and new chicks. She killed one and injured another. Then had the nerve to lay an egg there. Nope. Not gonna happen again. The other hens just ignore the chicks. For me, i dont have time for that foolishness.

 

[Wrightwife]

I had a PITA hen who was mean to me and most of my other girls. Getting a rooster mellowed all of the girls out and they rarely have squabbles or fights. The hen who always tried to take a chunk out of me also quit her nasty pecking antics too.

We love our boy! He has done wonders for the temperament of our flock.

Makes sense! Unfortunately we just can't have a rooster right now, for the same reason we only have 4 chickens total. Definitely backyard chickens! Thanks for the info though!

 

[Wrightwife]

I would crate her during these times....give her a time out, see if it helps at all.

I think I'll try that today!