Mean Hen!

[LMC]

I have a small flock of 3 polish hens that I've hand fed and cuddled every day for about 6 months. One of my hens started to peck my hand and my pant legs very hard a few days ago. I immediately stood up to appear bigger than her and she backed off. She was fine for the next few days, but I was keeping my distance. Yesterday she attacked me as soon as I sat down to feed them. She came up, pecked my hand hard and then jumped at me with her feet! I know she is not a roo, but I have no explanation as to why, suddenly, she would turn mean. I hope there is something I can do to change her behavior.

 

[Judy]

Wait til she stops being a teenager and grows up, hopefully.

 

[CarolAnn]

One of the pullet chicks I raised from a day old (got em in late April) turned out to be a roo. Very nice, very calm until a couple weeks ago he started following my 9 yr old granddaughter around the yard. One day he jumped at her and clawed down her legs, scaring her but leaving no marks. After that she only went to the chicken house and run when I was with her. Then one day when they'd been let out to run in the evening she went into the run to close a gate and he followed her in and I heard a blood curdling scream and he had her backed against the fence and was jumping ad flapping his wings at her. I swung at him with the dustpan in my hand and he didn't back down so I kicked him back about three feet. He came at me again and I kicked him clear out of the run. Before my girls came over the next time I called a friend and asked if he'd come get him. He agreed to come in a while but as soon as I told him the roo was terrifying Madison he said he'd be right over. He was here in 15 min and I already had the roo in a pet carrier. Man, I hated having to do that knowing he'd be killed, but I won't have a bird that is going to be aggressive like that. My granddaughters, especially Maddy, have been involved in this chicken thing from day one and they HAVE to be free/safe to go out to the chickens when they want to. I expect he made a very tasty meal.

Note: My hubby said that what my roo did is called flogging, and once they start they won't stop. And it's not unusual for them to target an individual in particular.

 

[LMC]

I'm just worried that she is going to get worse. She has gotten worse within a few days. I will rehome her without a 2nd thought, but I'd like to keep her if I can change her behavior. I guess I will just have to treat her like a mean roo and show her who is boss. She was so sweet last week though.

 

[sourland]

Convince her that you are dominant. The next time she pecks you, force her to the ground and subdue her. Let her part way up and then force her to the ground again. When you finally let her up, slap the ground with a rolled up newspaper and scare her away. Repeatif necessary.