Hen turned aggressive

[AmericanMom]

If she is indeed a hen then because you have no rooster she has taken on that roll, she will also attempt to "mount" the other hens, she thinks she is the dominant bird.

On our farm no aggressive animal is allowed to remain, Chickens are fun, I love to watch them and their different personalities can be quite entertaining but when your always worried about that one animal thats going to attack it kinda takes the fun out of it..

 

[jenfred75]

You can try to reform her behavior, as with a bad rooster. Look up @Beekissed 's article about it and give it a try. In general, you carry a stick or something and insist that she respects your space at all times, never letting her get close.
At the very least, she's being rude!
Every chicken doesn't become a 'pet', and that's fine, but you are not a flock member to be pushed around.
Mary

Thank you - I will look at that article. I don't really want to kill any of my birds - it was hard enough losing 3 within 2 weeks of each other (it was my first loss as a chicken owner). Plus she is an excellent layer - I just worry about my new little ones when I integrate them.

 

[Folly's place]

So she is a female, at least! I'd attempt rehabbing her at least. Be firm, but calm, and if you've been hand feeding, stop.
If you have fast reflexes, pecking her back, firmly, fast, can help too. Or tap her with your magic wand...
Mary

 

[rocking chickens]

A good slow integration with the flock is your best option to protect your chicks

 

[jenfred75]

Get a rooster.

Not an option - my neighbors would kill me!

 

[jenfred75]

A good slow integration with the flock is your best option to protect your chicks

We have a separate area that is connected to the other chickens to start them off, so they can see and smell each other, but not touch each other. They will stay there until they are big enough to protect themselves and I will allow them all out into our backyard at the same time, after a few weeks. I hope this works. This is my first time introducing new chickens. The original 6, were my first flock ever.

 

[jenfred75]

So she is a female, at least! I'd attempt rehabbing her at least. Be firm, but calm, and if you've been hand feeding, stop.
If you have fast reflexes, pecking her back, firmly, fast, can help too. Or tap her with your magic wand...
Mary

I have "pecked" her back and she backs off for a few days, but then she starts again. I think I need to get a rod or stick that gives me a longer arm. I don't hand feed them. They have food offered all the time for free choice and they roam my backyard for an hour each day, so they can peck around in the grass for bugs and such. They have a big enough coop/yard for their daily ventures - the coop and covered yard is 48 square feet and their outer yard that they have access to is about 200 square feet, so they are not hurting for room.

 

[jenfred75]

x2. Are these young birds, and is 'she' actually a cockerel?
Mary

She is 13 months old and definitely a hen - she lays eggs. She was pretty docile until those 3 had died, then she became mean, but only when I touch the other two hens. It's like she is afraid they will disappear too or something.

 

[jenfred75]

can you post a picture of your meenie hen?

She is 13 months old and definitely a hen - she lays eggs. She was pretty docile until those 3 had died, then she became mean, but only when I touch the other two hens. It's like she is afraid they will disappear too or something.

 

[Chickassan]

Bummer, they're mean hen valium.

Not an option - my neighbors would kill me!