Man Eating Hen!

[zelda3k]

Our rhode island red hen suddenly started attacking people! She is the "boss hen" of our flock of 4 including her. She is about 20 weeks old and not laying yet. She used to be the nicest and most docile out of the 4. Now she stalks family members as the walk around the yard. She will attack from behind jumping up to peck ferociously at your legs and feet. Please help!!!

 

[texasgal]

A big Texas sized

 

[ARose4Heaven]

Carry a squirt bottle...They don't like being sprayed. Try handling her more...it establishes you as the head hen. Chickens can get very territorial if you don't show them that you are the bigger bird.

 

[Chicks_N_Horses]

WELCOME

We eat meanies here. I would kick her when she tried to attack to show her she isn't boss hen if I wasn't planning on eating her or pen her up .... but that is just me...

We have a saying to the chickens that is kind of corny but cute LOL

'If you're sweet, you won't get eat but if you're mean, you'll be cookin' with the beans'

 

[zelda3k]

thanks we will try that

 

[Chicken Boo]

I have an attack chicken, too. She was the smallest of the group that was given to me. After watching all the other hens peck her on the head all the time, I could see why she was always in a bad mood. She now picks on the newer girls. She attacks me less now that she has others to pick on but she still looks for opportunity. I pretty much just meet her attacks with a light kick that lands her on her butt and then walk toward her like I am about to kick her again. She usually backs down and pretends to be looking for something to eat on the ground.

 

[Hollywood Chickens]

My hens got pretty mean and stand-off-ish right before they layed and after they started laying they have became much nicer then before

 

[cmom]

I see you have been lurking for awhile.

I had a hen that became mean and a real bully so I used rooster-red's Rooster reform on her. I would pick her up and hold her so she had to stay in my arms until I was ready to put her down, about 10-15 minutes MOL each time. It worked. She is now behaving. I did this a few months ago and so far so good...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2588-Roo_behavior

 

[mamaKate]

I've seen lots of advice to be defensive against attack roos but it didn't work for me. My little BO cockerel was getting pretty territorial, dropping his wing and once he hit me from behind. I had been sort of semi-kicking him back at any sign of dominance and he was getting worse. I stopped defending and he stopped provoking. This probably wouldn't work with a serious offender. My little guy was only half-heartedly making the effort. It almost looked like "I don't want to but I'm a rooster, so here goes." lol

 

[Ms Ellen]

I wouldn't attack them back. Just calmly pick them up and walk around or carry them upside down or whatever they would consider unpleasant. What ever you do, make it more humiliation than attack. Do it every time. This way they associate attacking you with unpleasant results but it's not like you are another rooster. Fighting back is what they expect to happen. Use a method they can't fight you back with. If it doesn't work, don't keep them around.