Hen turned aggressive towards owner!

[kimlovespink]

My sweet hen who has always been my baby has turned on me the last 2 days. She has pecked my eye, grabbed my hands and puffed chest at me. I have no idea why the Sudden Change in Behavior. She used to be my lap chicken and very tamed. Help! What happen to my sweet girl!? Its so crazy. She is almost 2 years old and looks healthy and fine.

 

[OkieChickenGal]

Sorry to hear that! What breed is she? A lot of times Rhode Island Red hens will turn on their owners. Could also be a rooster

 

[Allie Grace Sanders]

Are you sure it's a girl? Has "she" laid any eggs? Can we see pics?

 

[NNYchick]

Does she have chicks? Is it possible she has a secret nest somewhere she is protecting?

 

[RodNTN]

Is she acting like this in the nest? She could be broody.

 

[Roosters110]

Could be broody,are you sure it’s a girl?
Some hens will do this.I have a hen in my flock who will actually square off with me.I have also had a very aggressive buff Orpington who would wing dance around me and strut around me,could jut be a dominant hen.

 

[andreanar]

Broody came to mind first off.

 

[sumi]

I'm also thinking broody… Hens tend to lose their minds when the broodiness hormones kick in and the sweetest hen can turn into Godzilla when she has chicks and sitting in mind. Apart from the aggression, has her behaviour in general changed at all?

 

[BBB454]

I have a hen (Rhode Island Red) who is getting more and more aggressive towards me too. She's about 1 year old now, I've had her since she was 5 months old. She isn't aggressive to the other 2 hens or my roo, only to me. She chases me and jumps on my legs as I'm walking away, and she stares at me like she wants to rip my face off. She bites my hands and arms if she gets a chance (unless I'm hand feeding them treats). I have tried the "hold her until she quits squirming" and "hold her upside down" but it only seems to make her angrier at me. What else can I do? I won't cull her and I don't want to make her somebody else's problem either. Oh one last thing, she's also the first one who tries escaping the enclosure to go explore - the others seem to know they aren't supposed to do that but she is a troublemaker... LOL

 

[rosemarythyme]

Have you tried "pecking" her whenever she gets aggressive with you? Use a finger or two to poke her in the back or the back of neck every time she does something aggressive... not too hard, but enough to make her squeak.