- Jul 20, 2014
- 7
- 0
- 7
My 2-year-old Rhode Island Red hen ("Steve") has always been very friendly to me, squatting in front of me when I come into the run area and following me around, etc. Normal hen stuff. For a couple of weeks she's been pecking at my feet - I thought this was just curiosity (I was wearing crocs), but it has become increasingly aggressive, and then yesterday she launched an attack on my legs!
There have been some changes lately in the flock, but I'm not sure which is to blame (if any) and would love to hear ideas about solutions. I have 13 hens, no roos, mixed ages. The aggressive hen Steve was not top of the pecking order, but probably #3, until #1 went broody. I gave #1 a flock of chicks and she is just now starting to distance herself from them a bit, so it could be related to her re-entry to the flock. Also, I recently moved Steve and another hen who were nesting in a separate coop into the main coop so they would be with the crowd for body warmth during the winter. I noticed another hen (#2) picking on the babies a little bit (not drawing blood, just posturing) at bedtime, but I don't think that hen would be picking on Steve - they've lived together their whole lives with no problem. I haven't noticed any problem with Steve being aggressive towards the other birds - just me.
There have been some changes lately in the flock, but I'm not sure which is to blame (if any) and would love to hear ideas about solutions. I have 13 hens, no roos, mixed ages. The aggressive hen Steve was not top of the pecking order, but probably #3, until #1 went broody. I gave #1 a flock of chicks and she is just now starting to distance herself from them a bit, so it could be related to her re-entry to the flock. Also, I recently moved Steve and another hen who were nesting in a separate coop into the main coop so they would be with the crowd for body warmth during the winter. I noticed another hen (#2) picking on the babies a little bit (not drawing blood, just posturing) at bedtime, but I don't think that hen would be picking on Steve - they've lived together their whole lives with no problem. I haven't noticed any problem with Steve being aggressive towards the other birds - just me.