new chicken

[R.I.P -tetra]

I have a red star and she always escapes and will sometimes bite is that normal? I got her when she was about 6 months and when I first got her she was very aggressive and not well behaved of course she lived most her life before that in a small cage if that has anything to do with it, but even after having her for 5 months she still escapes almost daily. we have made the fence taller and I make sure they have plenty of food and water but she still escapes.

 

[alexa009]

Aggression is common in red sexlinks. I have had aggressive ones before and I know other people who have. I think it is just genetics or the way they were bred. I would recommend clipping your birds wings or stay outside awhile and see the secret escape route she is taking. I have caught my chickens escaping under holes.

 

[R.I.P -tetra]

we have clipped her wings already, and I know how she escapes but she escapes by jumping over the door and we cant make it any higher, and i also tried putting a sweater on her but then she pulled the tread apart and its to hot.

 

[azygous]

It takes time and effort to get a chicken to trust you. I think that's what you're experiencing - this hen does't trust humans.

To get her to trust you, it's important to reduce the size and stress of her world. Giving her too much space after being caged likely stressed her out and this could be why she's so flighty.

Try making her world smaller and more manageable. Give her security with cover - a small pen with a shelter with a roof so she feels safe. Then slowly introduce yourself by sitting quietly in her small enclosure with her so she can get used to you.

At first, don't try to touch her. After a few days just sitting with her quietly, bring a treat and toss it to her. Next day, toss it closer to yourself so she has to come closer. Next day hold it out in your hand requiring her to take it from you. But don't try to touch her.

You'll be able to tell when she starts relaxing around you and when you can begin to stroke her neck (never her back) as she takes the treat. Soon she will trust you to handle her, and hopefully, eventually you can trust her to free range again without trying to escape.

 

[R.I.P -tetra]

well I have gained some trust from her but the main thing is she is
always escaping here is what the coop looks like..

it is quite a mess but normally it is clean

 

[aart]

Is she your only chicken?

 

[R.I.P -tetra]

Is she your only chicken?

no i have a silver wynadotte too

 

[aart]

but the main thing is she is
always escaping here is what the coop looks like..

Well, that enclosure(run) certainty needs some work to make it secure,
both to keep chickens in,
and to keep predators out(which needs more than chicken wire).

 

[rosemarythyme]

Well, that enclosure(run) certainty needs some work to make it secure,
both to keep chickens in,
and to keep predators out(which needs more than chicken wire).

I see it this way - if the chicken can get out, almost any predator can get in. Using a more durable fence material and covering the top of the run would be a start, as the run only looks to be 3, 4 feet tall?

 

[R.I.P -tetra]

aart,androsemarythyme as I said before she is escaping through the door which we cannot make any higher