Mean hens

[Fluffy&Cutie]

my 2 hens are being SO mean. they peck me a lot and very hard. luckily this behavior is just to me, not my hubby or child. this behavior is new. i have been their mommy and have spent a lot of time with them. they are 10 months. because of vnd in the area, we built a larger coop/run to ensure biosecurity. they have just moved into the new space. in addition, they met their new "sisters," 2 silkies. And....because of the vnd, they are no longer free ranging. i am hoping that it is the change that is frustrating them. but i dont know what to do. how do i retrain them?
just as some info the prefab coop was 9 sq ft total for 2 birds and the prefab run was 10 sq ft per bird. It was so tiny. The new coop is a total upgrade with 21 sq ft and the run has 80 sq ft. Are they being jealous of the little silkies who are TERRIFIED of them? Are they mad because i am not letting them free range? Does this behavior happen when chickens move? (like children) Will is go away? is there something i can do? i am scared to go into the coop. And then really frustrated because i feel bad.

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

Chickens get weird at times. Are they pecking the other hens? It could be the introduction of new birds. Never be afraid of your birds haha. Just put your thumb and index and middle fingers together and give them a peck back on their backs. It is a dominance thing.

 

[Broodygranny]

What kind of hens are they? Chickens tend to peck at things, but some peck harder than others. I have broody hens that can draw blood. I also have a light brahma hen who is friendly, but she just pecks hard! I think it is because we feed mealworms as treats, and she acts like she is trying to eat a finger!

 

[chickens really]

Do you hand feed them? How are they treating the Silkies?

 

[Fluffy&Cutie]

It didnt happen before. Again this began about one week ago. They are leghorn crosses, so they had been very calm, for leghorns. They are not kind to the silkies, but mostly ignore them. However, the leghorns have tried to take over where the silkies sleep. The silkies like to sleep in a shallow basket. they choose not to roost. The leghorns have always roosted...always. now they want a basket. empty basket. i cant go in now without getting pecked alive. they can draw blood. Fluffy just pecked my face. I went in to remind the girls that silkies sleep in a basket and leghorns on the roost (choice of two 3 foot roosts) and fluffy pecked me. i was so mad.
i took her out of the coop and left her in the run until we both calm down. i will put her on the roost later. i dont hand feed them. they are little t rexes! lol.