Normally sweet pullet is biting me! - Why?

[tuesdays chicks]

if not broody she might be molting, the harmonies really screw with personality as I have learned, My pullet went broody then off the nest she comes to molt and she was worse with molt then broody, I was almost heating a soup pot for her, but it was over in a few weeks just hang in there she will go back to normal my girl is back to laying and squatting friendlier then ever.

 

[Happy Chooks]

The fact that you state her neck feathers puff up tells me she's challenging you. It's a display of dominance.

 

[artsyrobin]

thats interesting, i have a young brahma hen that will get mad when i hold her and bite, the last few times i grabbed her beak and told her no real sternly, and carried her around a bit- seems she has changed her mind about it- i'm still watching her close, now i know its a dominance issue

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote:
I "peck" mine with my index finger on the top of their head when they do that. I had a pullet that went for me (to bite my finger) 3 times (with me pecking her each time) before she backed down. She never did it again after that.

 

[chuckzoo]

Thanks guys for the comments and advice. I am trying several suggestions and she seems to be mellowing out a bit and not so keen to bite, hopefully I will be able to curtail this behaviour completely.

 

[Q9]

One of our hens used to be extremely sweet, too. She'd even let you mess with her wattle. However, she has ascended since to the top of the pecking order, and now if she sees your hand coming, she'll bite you. However, like others have said, giving a little pop or holding the chicken will work wonders. She still attacks my work boots for some reason, but her attitude improved after some "pecking" and a few incidents of holding her in place for a few minutes.

I'd say it's definitely dominance. Remind her that she's much lower on the chain of command.