I have a mean (ahem, EVIL) hen!

[Caitlin02]

Thank you! I have also just discovered that she is just TERRIFIED of the spray bottle. Just water, nothing else! I pick it up and she runs to the other side of the coop. So, at least I have that until I can order some Peepers!
PS- is it normal for the to walk around with their beaks open? It's starting to freak me out... like, "I am veady for you, and I vill kill you... I just chose not to at this moment."

 

[Frindizzle]

from Washington! In our flock we have great people and it is always great to have a new member In our flock, we have no pecking order!

By the way, not saying that you will do anything bad, but no fowl play

I honestly do not know what to do, luckily I do not have a mean hen!

 

[drumstick diva]

Do you live in a hot climate? If so that is why they walk around with the beaks open.

 

[Michael OShay]

Do you live in a hot climate? If so that is why they walk around with the beaks open.

That was exactly my thought as well.

 

[Caitlin02]

Ah! Hot August summer in Seattle... Thanks!

 

[rockinpaints]

Cheers from Ohio!

Glad you could join us!

 

[ChickFanatic8]

I have the same problem!!! She isn't mean once you pick her up, but she often goes after my shoes or hands. Will the pinless peepers help change her habits? Or just make it harder to peck while she wears them?

 

[CuzChickens]

I have the same problem!!! She isn't mean once you pick her up, but she often goes after my shoes or hands. Will the pinless peepers help change her habits? Or just make it harder to peck while she wears them?

Hi there, and welcome to Backyard Chickens! What pinless peepers do is make it so the bird cannot see directly in front of themselves, there for unable to see where they at aiming to peck. I have never used them, but I know how they work and I know many people that have had great success with them.

 

[QueenMisha]

I have the same problem!!! She isn't mean once you pick her up, but she often goes after my shoes or hands. Will the pinless peepers help change her habits? Or just make it harder to peck while she wears them?

Welcome to BYC! It's great to have you.

Yes, pinless peepers should be effective in curbing the issue. Though, if she's becoming a bother, you might simply sell her. Hens who are ill tempered don't last very long in my flock.

 

[BurntFeather]

!!!
We had a hen like that and after 2 years of trying we had to put her down because she was attacking people, and caused us to take one of our children to the ER!!! We tried everything, but she kept with the horrible attitude and attacks every day. She would hoard all of her eggs, never let us get close enough to collect, and then she would eat them after letting them develop for 2 weeks. She was never aggressive towards the other chickens, but it would send a shiver up our spines to see her when we walked into the chicken coop/yard while we collected eggs, changed out water, refill the food, clean, spend time with other hens, and so one. We leave the door open during the days an close out the predators at night, but she never left the run or coop area, not once and protected it like a guard dog. I have spoken to a lot of chicken owners about her and had some come meet her, but no had answers and she was the worst that most of them have ever encountered. Because of this 1 chicken my children are terrified of Buff Orpingtons. We have owned hundreds of chickens, hen and rooster, and have never had a another chicken like her EVER, thank goodness!
I am not saying that this is how your hen will turn out to be, but I honestly have many regrets that I did not remove her from the chicken family sooner. So, take in everyone advise/experience and figure out what is best for your human and chicken families.