Mean hen

[cware0204]

I have a RIR that we have raised from 1 week old. She is about 6 months old. She had never been the cuddliest bird we have but never out right mean. For about 3 weeks now she had been mean to us humans, not to the other chickens. If you go near her she sees it as a threat and lunges at you. You can no longer pick her up or even act like your going to. She is perfectly fine with the other chickens. It's just us that she doesn't like all of a sudden. By the way....she hasn't started laying yet. She doesn't even come close to a submissive squat when you come near her. Quite the opposite....she runs for you! Any advice?

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

I have a RIR that we have raised from 1 week old. She is about 6 months old. She had never been the cuddliest bird we have but never out right mean. For about 3 weeks now she had been mean to us humans, not to the other chickens. If you go near her she sees it as a threat and lunges at you. You can no longer pick her up or even act like your going to. She is perfectly fine with the other chickens. It's just us that she doesn't like all of a sudden. By the way....she hasn't started laying yet. She doesn't even come close to a submissive squat when you come near her. Quite the opposite....she runs for you! Any advice?

Welcome to BYC!
The first question to be asked is are you 100% certain that the bird in question is, in fact, female? Even if you feel certain it might be a good idea to go ahead and post a photo for a second opinion as a bird that is 6 months, not actively laying eggs and showing a sudden aggression sounds a lot like a potential cockerel coming into a hormonal state.

 

[cware0204]

I am pretty new at this but I am certain she is not a he. She looks nothing like a rooster.l

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

At that age she has become sexually matured, perhaps she wishes to dominate you, or has become moody and agitated, their personality can change a bit before they begin to lay, hopefully she will calm down after that happens.

 

[cware0204]

Thank you! Hopefully she will calm down!

 

[junebuggena]

Definitely sound like it could be a cockerel.

 

[cware0204]

Here she is. Do you think this is a Rooster??

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

That's a hen, I stick with my original post

 

[cware0204]

Thought so!

 

[naomiayn]

Same here, I have a RIR born 5/5/15, she to has become moody and ****** when I now enter the coop. She bites at my legs and hands but when I pick her up and rub her chest (fairly hard) she is fine. I put her down and she goes after my legs again so I scoop her up and go about the cleaning of the coop with one hand. What's her deal? The four other hens do not do this. They are laying, but not sure who is doing the laying.