My 9 month old hen was very mean today

[edithbunker]

Shes always very nice, I pick her up all the time and shes NOT the dominate one in the group, today she was, she pecked the heck out of another hen and i went to pick her up and she bit me AND didnt let go, . She kept biting me and making a "growling" sound..What is the deal? My husband says time for dinner, i say NOOOOOOOOOOO!
Help

 

[TigerLilly]

Was she in the nest box when you picked her up? Broody, maybe? Has anything changed recently (new additions to the flock)?

 

[crtrlovr]

at 9 mos., she's probably hormonal and quite possibly wanting to go broody... she's probably not being mean for the sake of being mean

 

[edithbunker]

well they have been cooped indoors most of the winter, and this is their second full day out in a long time, there are only 2, I dont have a roo and their diet is still the same. They were outside when I went to pick her up and she bit the heck outa me, I just went down there now and she did it again, . Im sure shes not doing it to be mean but just wondering. What is broody exactly mean?

 

[Judy]

They don't need a roo to go broody, it's hormonal. If she's staying on the nest all the time she's broody.

All about broodies: http://www.themodernhomestead.us/article/Broody-Hens-1.html

 

[edithbunker]

nope no nest, she was outside. Thanks for the info though about not needing a roo, that was very informative.

 

[FrizzlesRule]

Definitely broody if she is puffing up and growling. I've had hens go broody at nine months. Broody means, she wants to set on eggs and when the eggs hatch into chicks, she will protect them and keep them warm from atleast three to six weeks. Bantams hens go broody more often than bigger hens.

 

[easttxchick]

When I've pushed a broody off of the nest and closed her out of the coop, it just made her angrier.
My hen walked around outside all puffed up growling at every other bird in sight.
Your girl may just be contemplating going broody right now.

 

[edithbunker]

Thanks guys! I will leave her cooped and I remade her lil nest so its all nicey nice for her tomm !