Night of the living chicken...

[ronott1]

She likely did not like your taste in boots!

She sounds like quite a character

 

[4 ever Orpington]

Good advise, I normally do check but I can always miss something. I'd rather it be a form of communication than the thought of her just trying to attack me

What position do she hold in your flock. If she is your head hen or close to it she my be wanting to dominate you. Roosters aren’t the only ones to do this. Good luck

 

[red mommy]

I had a game bantam once named Carnel Cream and when ever i went into the coop and filled there feeder she would peck at my shoes until i looked down and notice her. ( like Hey im down here! Pick me up already) She was spoiled as she was so small she was hand fed and held alot. What a sweetheart she was.
Can you tell if this is (hey im trying to get your attenation pecking) or is it more (i am mad at you) message?

it felt, at the time, that it was more like she was mad at me, but that could have been a misperception on my part- I had a rooster when I was a kid, when he got old he got mean, my mind travels back to his behavior. It wasn't the same behavior, thankfully, Happy, my rooster, would attack, she didn't do that, she was going through the motions like she was trying to peck more and flop on me

 

[red mommy]

She may have a good point. You said you hadn’t had this little hen for long. Did you get any information from the previous owner. I know my girls would probably be misunderstood if I gave them away (that would NEVER happen). Stay firm with her after awhile it just might work out.

Thank you and I didn't get much information, but I will be getting back in touch with them because it may help to explain a little better.

 

[red mommy]

What position do she hold in your flock. If she is your head hen or close to it she my be wanting to dominate you. Roosters aren’t the only ones to do this. Good luck

She is the middle, the hen pictured in my avatar is Dory, she is the head chicken and the smallest of the 3, Maggie is in the middle and then Fluffy.

 

[aart]

Do not become part of the pecking order, you are not a chicken.

Have had this happen several times, mostly with hand fed chicks often as they come of age and get spunky. It's pretty easily curbed with calm and deliberate determination.

I peck them back, on the head or anywhere I can reach, with the tips of thumb and first 2 fingers, as hard and fast as many times as I can before they get away. Well, not hard enough to hurt them, just startle them and let them you mean business. That's what another chicken would do, so they understand that kind of communication.

If that doesn't work after a couple applications, I hold them down to the ground with my hand on their back until they submit....again firmly enough to get the job done but not hurt them....add a few finger pecks and/or tug on the feathers on the back of their neck.

 

[red mommy]

She is back to her old self today... :O)

 

[Lexi108]

Every morning I traipse out to the run to tend to our wee flock (3) hens. The middle bird (in the pecking order) Maggie, got right up behind to the left side of me this morning while I was crouched down and she looked like she was about to jump on my back. She has done this once before. I stood up because I was dressed for work and didn't want to have to change and she just stood there, and then pecked my leg (above the boot) ok....but then, she started acting aggressive and tried to peck me a couple more times (wouldn't let her) and then acted like she was going to flop me (didn't let that happen either) all the while not moving out of my way. It was like she was throwing a temper tantrum for not letting her roost on my back. This is the only thing I can think of because (while I haven't had her for that long) she didn't behave this way previously. Is this normal? Am I reading too much into it? Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

All of my chickens have done this!! My chickens are pets though, raised indoors and taken on car rides often. My little hen always gets on my shoulder, but sometimes I dont want my clothes roughed up either. She takes her beak and kind of pecks me, but its more like she drags it downward on my arm. I dont think your hen was being aggressive, just more like a bratty kid that wants to be picked up and carried by mom.