Kamikaze Chicken

[PhoenixF]

I have a Rhode Island Red who is just starting to lay; 4 months old? She is a crazy one. Super loving and sweet but she gets in these weird moods and blazes around the yard at full tilt slamming into the wall and fences and injuring herself. Today she was super hot so we went to get her and bring her inside to cool off quicker and she took off running and bloodied her beak up pretty badly. It's minor and we are caring for her but why does she do this? How can we make her stop? She has two coops to choose from with 4 nesting boxes each plus a large dog igloo and 3 big trees in our side yard. It's quite a big area for our flock of 7 so she has room and grass and cover and shade and dust baths and several access points for water. She comes right to you for cuddles so it doesn't feel like skittishness sets her off. She does this when we are not out there too and we hear a ruckus and look out the window and witness it. She does not seem overly picked on by the flock.

Than you for any advice.

 

[dotporter]

Have you checked to see if she has vision problems?

 

[Eggcessive]

Welcome to BYC. She may be acting more unusual due to hormones, and starting to lay. Most chickens will run and act crazy if they are approached to be caught, at least mine will. I would check to make sure her beak is not cracked, and that she is eating and drinking normally. Beaks can be very sensive if broken.

 

[PhoenixF]

Have you checked to see if she has vision problems?

I have not. Not sure how I would check for that but I'll research it. She seems to find her food and drink fine and comes right up to me for cuddles. At least I know she's not blind.

 

[PhoenixF]

Welcome to BYC. She may be acting more unusual due to hormones, and starting to lay. Most chickens will run and act crazy if they are approached to be caught, at mine will. I would check to make sure her beak is not cracked, and that she is eating and drinking normally. Beaks can be very sensive if broken.

She has done this since the day I got her as a tiny chick. She never runs from me but to me when I come in and hops up for cuddles. It seems pretty random when she does it and it also happens when no one is in their run. We got her cooled down and she is drinking normally and eating a watermelon so that's good. We will be keeping a very close eye on her. Thank you for your input.

 

[Eggcessive]

One thing to look for is if she starts running in circles or walking backward. That can be a neurological symptom of wry neck. Hopefully, her behavior is not significant.