My nice hens are not so nice anymore..!!??

[vmaclow]

I have 4 hens who I have raised since they were a day old. They are (were) very tame and I was able to pick them up or pet them but lately 2 of them have become very cranky! They have been laying since Feb and are now demonstrating what I believe is a mating behavior....when approached they crouch down and hold their wings out as to steady themselves for a rooster. When I go into the run area to gather eggs from the coop I am being pecked on the legs and feet. What happened to my sweet girls?

 

[ADozenGirlz]

Quote:

Welcome to BYC and congratulations on your first post!

What kind of chickens do you have? Some breeds are more "flighty" than others although, nothing that you described here sounds like cranky chicken behavior. Is there more to the story? Here's a very helpful BYC link about breeds, which includes information about their dispositions generally but each chicken really is an indvidual:
http://images.google.com/imgres?img...+with+pictures&hl=en&rlz=1R2ADBR_en&sa=X&um=1

It's totally normal for hens to exhibit that submissive behavior when approached and it is in deference to you as Alpha Roo.

Do your shoes have grommets, eye holes for laces or some kind or print on them? My chickens will peck at the ladybugs on my garden clogs b/c they think they're snacks and chickens are apt to peck at small things (like diamonds in rings or freckles on skin). That's just normal, curious chicken behavior and not cause for reform school.

 

[b.hromada]

How wonderfully put A dozengrlz! Couldn't have worded it better myself! By the way,

from S. Florida! Glad you joined us!

 

[ADozenGirlz]

b.hromada :

How wonderfully put A dozengrlz! Couldn't have worded it better myself! By the way,

from S. Florida! Glad you joined us!

Thank YOU!

 

[RocketDad]

When your hens squat, give them a good scritching on the back and they'll love it. Don't forget to take them kitchen treats, or a handful of scratch when you visit them. Pick them up and they'll remember how much they love you. They're young, and getting used to the new lifestyle of being laying hens still. A lot of it's hormonal. Remember being a surly teen? I do. I apologize to my mom STILL.

I have one hen that thinks SHE's the alpha roo, and tries to dominate me. She hates it when I pet the other girls when she's around.

 

[vmaclow]

Thanks for the welcome everyone! Also thanks for the suggestions. I will try it. Believe me, these are not the curious "what's this" pecks to check something out. These are blood drawing, grab and try to rip sort of pecks and when pushed away come back for more!! Oh yeah...I remember the teenage years and am living through my last teenager at home!! Thanks again.