I have this situation...

[Vikinglike]

So my chicks are now 7 weeks old, moving to the coop this week..
I have 7 Buff Orpingtons and 6 Wyandottes. They all seem to get along great!
My question is about one of my buffs.... her name is Hella, “ The Goddess of Death”.
When I walk to the brooder, she’s the first to run to me, when I put my hand in, she bites me! She goes right after me.... unless I pick her up, which I always do. If I pickup another chick, she jumps up and tries to bite me or the other chick that I’m holding!
Is she just mean, or a psycho jealous witch?!
She never bites when I’m holding her!
What do I do with her (no, I’m a vegetarian)
Thanks

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Are you sure it's a pullet? I have read some members peck them back. @azygous I believe is the one I read has done this. I personally prefer to not handle so much so I haven't had this problem.

 

[azygous]

Pecking or actually biting? The first one is communication, though a bit overbearing, while the second one is a real cause for concern because it's aggressive by intention.

@oldhenlikesdogs is right, though. If the chick is hurting you, neither one is acceptable. Immediately upon getting pecked or bitten, you need to give the chick a swift peck on the back between the shoulders with your finger.

I have several of these kind of chickens that signal me with a peck that they wish to be picked up and cuddled. One hen in particular can get rather "stern" with her pecking, so I remind her that she's going too far with a peck on her back. She "gets it" because this is how chickens discipline one another.

Young chicks especially understand this because they get disciplined a lot by their elders during the period when they are learning to fit into an adult flock. I'm watching that right now as my current chicks mingle with the adults. It's amazing how quickly they learn.

 

[Vikinglike]

Pecking or actually biting? The first one is communication, though a bit overbearing, while the second one is a real cause for concern because it's aggressive by intention.

@oldhenlikesdogs is right, though. If the chick is hurting you, neither one is acceptable. Immediately upon getting pecked or bitten, you need to give the chick a swift peck on the back between the shoulders with your finger.

I have several of these kind of chickens that signal me with a peck that they wish to be picked up and cuddled. One hen in particular can get rather "stern" with her pecking, so I remind her that she's going too far with a peck on her back. She "gets it" because this is how chickens discipline one another.

Young chicks especially understand this because they get disciplined a lot by their elders during the period when they are learning to fit into an adult flock. I'm watching that right now as my current chicks mingle with the adults. It's amazing how quickly they learn.

Pecking or actually biting? The first one is communication, though a bit overbearing, while the second one is a real cause for concern because it's aggressive by intention.

@oldhenlikesdogs is right, though. If the chick is hurting you, neither one is acceptable. Immediately upon getting pecked or bitten, you need to give the chick a swift peck on the back between the shoulders with your finger.

I have several of these kind of chickens that signal me with a peck that they wish to be picked up and cuddled. One hen in particular can get rather "stern" with her pecking, so I remind her that she's going too far with a peck on her back. She "gets it" because this is how chickens discipline one another.

Young chicks especially understand this because they get disciplined a lot by their elders during the period when they are learning to fit into an adult flock. I'm watching that right now as my current chicks mingle with the adults. It's amazing how quickly they learn.

this is definitely a “bite”... she grabs and pinches my skin...
Thanks for your help!
I’ll definitely “bite” her back. Lol

 

[azygous]

I love the name!

 

[Matzwd]

Do you have a cockerel? This chick could be one or could be taking on the role of a cockerel if one is needed in your flock.

 

[Vikinglike]

All females.
I definitely think she’s the Alpha.
And she knows it!
Lol

 

[clintbwell]

Ive got 8 EE hens in a brooder and 4 RIR cockerels in another right now, 7-8 weeks old, the cockerels have bit me twice now, while im bending over feeding them in their brooder, the first one hurt pretty good. the second time it broke skin and drew blood. so im like lightning fast grabbing their feeder, and waterer in and out now. The hens however have never tried to bite or even peck me hard. They are so sweet....
Sadly tho, the cockerels better chill out because only the friendliest rooster is going to be kept.

 

[danceswithronin]

I agree with the others - if any dominant chicken in the flock pecks hard at me (either as a pecking order display or to be bossy about getting treats), I "peck" them back right between the shoulders with my pointer finger. They usually make an YIPE! chirp and that knocks them down a few pegs. I had a White Rock cockerel I had to do this to - he was a friendly bird but almost food-aggressive in his enthusiasm for treats.

 

[Vikinglike]

Thank you all for your advice!!!