Hens suddenly aggressive

[Moby75165]

Back in July 2019 I first got on this site and learned a whole lot about chickens.

Ended up with one rooster and five hens. The hens are Orpington‘s.

Until this evening they’ve always just let me take the eggs But tonight they were aggressively coming after the eggs and trying to peck the eggs and break them open. I had to push them away pretty hard.

I got the five eggs, but I’m wondering about this sudden change in behavior.

Any thoughts?
I’m grateful for any advice.

Moby

 

[azygous]

Where were you when this happened? Exactly what were you doing? Where were the five hens? What were they doing precisely? When did this happen, what time of day? Do you have any ideas as to why they behaved like this; we'd like to hear your thoughts.

How old are these hens? How long have they been laying? Were all five hens involved? How many nests were involved?

Or was it just one hen? Was she in the nest sitting on all five eggs when she began pecking at the eggs as you were removing them? Was this accompanied by the hen puffing herself up and screeching? I'm wondering if you have a broody hen.

 

[Folly's place]

That's what i was wondering too. Broodies can be very aggressive about their nests!
Mary

 

[Moby75165]

Where were you when this happened? Exactly what were you doing? Where were the five hens? What were they doing precisely? When did this happen, what time of day? Do you have any ideas as to why they behaved like this; we'd like to hear your thoughts.

How old are these hens? How long have they been laying? Were all five hens involved? How many nests were involved?

Or was it just one hen? Was she in the nest sitting on all five eggs when she began pecking at the eggs as you were removing them? Was this accompanied by the hen puffing herself up and screeching? I'm wondering if you have a broody hen.

Thanks for the reply.
It was last evening. About 6:30 pm it is dark in Texas this time of year. I got the chicks mid July 19. So they’re 6 months old or so.

I was at the back of the coop which has an access door to a small nesting area. They are in there every night, out before the sun is up. I typically check for eggs before I leave for work and after I get home. I opened the door and reached in for eggs. Multiple hens rapidly came to the nesting boxes and didn’t try to peck me but did start pecking the eggs. I had to push them away rather assertively multiple times. No screeching or puffing up.

It was like they wanted to destroy the eggs rather than let me take them. First time this has happened. Usually they aren’t even sitting on them when I collect. I’m thinking they’re maturing and perhaps know the Rooster has fertilized. The eggs were in two different nesting boxes. Three eggs in one two in the other. There are three boxes. The eggs were in boxes next to each other. All the chickens tend to sit near the front on the nesting house/box. As I can recall at least 4 hens were involved. Definitely not the Rooster. Once I made it clear (by pushing hard) that I was taking the eggs they stopped. This all took 15-20 seconds.

I thought this might’ve been maternal instincts, however they did not try to peck me they tried to destroy the eggs.

This morning there were no eggs and I was normal I put out my normal scratch and grit.

 

[chickens really]

I'm thinking they thought you were bringing treats and had nothing to do with the eggs themselves.

 

[aart]

How long have they been laying?

Once I made it clear (by pushing hard) that I was taking the eggs they stopped. This all took 15-20 seconds.

Good move......hopefully that will be the end of it.

I thought this might’ve been maternal instincts, however they did not try to peck me they tried to destroy the eggs.

That is odd......but chickens are fickle and do some weird stuff.

 

[azygous]

I lean toward @chickens really 's guess that they were excited to see you and reacted as if you were bringing them treats and perhaps thought you were offering the eggs as treats so began tearing into them.

Unless a hen is broody, she lays an egg and promptly surrenders all ownership of it. If a hen does peck at you while she's on the nest settling in to lay an egg, it's because she's demonstrating ownership of the nest and is defending it against an intruder.

I suggest you wait to collect eggs until the hens have cleared out. Or give them their treats before you collect eggs so they're distracted.

 

[Moby75165]

I'm thinking they thought you were bringing treats and had nothing to do with the eggs themselves.

This quite possible. I typically throw a handful of scratch you’re so down every time I come out to the coop.

 

[Moby75165]

I lean toward @chickens really 's guess that they were excited to see you and reacted as if you were bringing them treats and perhaps thought you were offering the eggs as treats so began tearing into them.

Unless a hen is broody, she lays an egg and promptly surrenders all ownership of it. If a hen does peck at you while she's on the nest settling in to lay an egg, it's because she's demonstrating ownership of the nest and is defending it against an intruder.

I suggest you wait to collect eggs until the hens have cleared out. Or give them their treats before you collect eggs so they're distracted.

Thanks to all for the replies.
So far I’ve pretty much learned everything I know about chickens on this site.

It’s kind of cool to have roughly 5 eggs every day. I’ve got your money I’ve been giving them away, and never gone without eggs for myself.