My hen attacked me

[LavenderMotherHen]

The weirdest thing happened to me today. I was transporting 6 week old chicks from the chicken tractor inside because of a storm threatening and one of my 2 year old ladies jumped at my legs over and over. I about tripped several times. Why do you think this happened? Here’s some pictures of Marilyn, the offender. Could she be a hidden roo? She’s a Lavender Orpington. I’m not sure who’s laying of the Orpingtons, but I assumed everyone was- and I’ve never heard a crow. So maybe she’s just taken over the job?? She is the one who alerts them all to predators.

 

[CaliforniaMountainChicks]

She’s definitely a hen. Not sure why she would’ve done that. Maybe she didn’t like that you were moving fast with the chicks?

 

[Geena]

Looks like a hen to me! Were the 6 weeks olds making a fuss when you caught them up? Maybe Marilyn was just trying to protect them, especially if she considers herself to be the lookout.

 

[LavenderMotherHen]

Looks like a hen to me! Were the 6 weeks olds making a fuss when you caught them up? Maybe Marilyn was just trying to protect them, especially if she considers herself to be the lookout.

Yeah, they don’t like being separated and I had to hurry with them one by one. And then one escaped. But she attacked me again later while holding one of the other chickens, who was very calm. She’s definitely one that’s much more interested in the chicks and growls at them. I’ll have to figure out how to get on her good side again lol.

 

[ChickNanny13]

Age of the LO

 

[Yardmom]

Any chance that she has adopted the chicks (in her mind)? I have a hen who does a broody type thing with chicks, she thinks all chicks are for her to raise wheather they have there own mother or not.

 

[Tired old Rooster]

She is Alpha? If so, she was trying to protect the chicks from you. Crossed purpose happened.

 

[Mother-Hen-Michele]

What a great girl! Risking her comfort, safety and potentially her future snacks to explain to the human that the babies don't like to be moved

I think she deserves extra snacks for her service (yeah, combat aggressive behaviour with extra love and attention works. Punishment never does. They just don't have a grasp of negative consequences but are super good at positive ones.)