Our hen attacked my two young kids

[Wyorp Rock]

Ummm.... any second opinions out there?

If not, you have a backup plan.

Yep carry the hen under your arm, chase the kids around the yard, poke them with sticks and peck them in the head instead

 

[LaFleche]

Hi all,
Need some advice on correcting some unacceptable chicken behavior.

We have a small flock of five hens, and this past weekend one of our hens (she's #2 in the pecking order) squared up on my one-and-a-half year-old and threw her feet up into his face, just as a rooster with spurs would (she doesn't have spurs, thankfully). He wasn't tormenting her or anything, just walking calmly and cutely through them and giving them gentle pets as he passed. Her back toe baaaaaarely made contact with his cheek--didn't break the skin or anything--but NO WAY is that sort of behavior going to be tolerated. Once I made sure my kid was okay I scooped him up and chased that hen around the backyard, "pecking" at her with my fingers. When she went to hide under a large, low tree where I couldn't reach her I got the long stick we use for our firepit and continued to gently peck her with it. Hopefully the fact that I was holding my son drove home the fact that she is NOT above him on the pecking order.

Then this morning the same thing happened with our seven-year-old. He had crouched down to give her a pet and she threw her feet up into his face, this time lightly scratching his cheek. I immediately instructed him to chase her and "peck" her, and then when she hid under that same tree I had him continue pecking her for a bit with the stick. After I took him inside and washed his cheek very well with soap and water I went back out with some treats, and made sure all of the other chickens got some, "pecking" at the offending chicken whenever she got close. I think it would have been more effective if my son was the one denying the treats, but at this point I was just pissed at her, to be honest.

So my question: is this just "testing the pecking order" behavior? Or is the fact that she's rearing up and attacking with her feet indicative of something else? And is there anything else I or my kids need to do to quell this misbehavior? Thanks in advance.

Behavior modification is far-and-away our preferred option, since the chickens are pets and we're all super attached to them. "Rehoming," whether to another flock or to a stewpot, would be devastating for the kids especially.

That said, we do have family with a farm about two hours away who'd likely be willing to add a pullet to the flock if it came to that.

As young kids are quite unpredictable regarding their behaviour/movements and very at risk to sustain severe damage (eyes!!), I would always choose their security first and not wait for some character changes in an aggressive hen that might never even happen.

For children it does not matter whether it is a rooster or a hen that damaged their eye, neither would it matter to me in making sure that there will be no future risks for this happening.

This would mean to give the hen to the family farm (possible visits in the future) or keep the chicken fenced in.

 

[doughouse]

Yep carry the hen under your arm, chase the kids around the yard, poke them with sticks and peck them in the head instead

I mean, the idea of having to get rid of this chicken is actually pretty devastating to us. I'm glad you find this funny, but I'm asking for help here.

 

[hayley3]

I had a chicken that was constantly flying at my leg, (she was the most picked on bird) I read (probably on this forum) to pick her up and carry her around with me like a football for a few minutes, backwards, and that seemed to work.

 

[lifein1840]

Hi all,
Need some advice on correcting some unacceptable chicken behavior.

We have a small flock of five hens, and this past weekend one of our hens (she's #2 in the pecking order) squared up on my one-and-a-half year-old and threw her feet up into his face, just as a rooster with spurs would (she doesn't have spurs, thankfully). He wasn't tormenting her or anything, just walking calmly and cutely through them and giving them gentle pets as he passed. Her back toe baaaaaarely made contact with his cheek--didn't break the skin or anything--but NO WAY is that sort of behavior going to be tolerated. Once I made sure my kid was okay I scooped him up and chased that hen around the backyard, "pecking" at her with my fingers. When she went to hide under a large, low tree where I couldn't reach her I got the long stick we use for our firepit and continued to gently peck her with it. Hopefully the fact that I was holding my son drove home the fact that she is NOT above him on the pecking order.

Then this morning the same thing happened with our seven-year-old. He had crouched down to give her a pet and she threw her feet up into his face, this time lightly scratching his cheek. I immediately instructed him to chase her and "peck" her, and then when she hid under that same tree I had him continue pecking her for a bit with the stick. After I took him inside and washed his cheek very well with soap and water I went back out with some treats, and made sure all of the other chickens got some, "pecking" at the offending chicken whenever she got close. I think it would have been more effective if my son was the one denying the treats, but at this point I was just pissed at her, to be honest.

So my question: is this just "testing the pecking order" behavior? Or is the fact that she's rearing up and attacking with her feet indicative of something else? And is there anything else I or my kids need to do to quell this misbehavior? Thanks in advance.

CULL HER! I have a friend who lost her eye as a child from a hen doing the same thing!!! Your kids are so much more important than that hen - you can get new chickens that will be docile and gentle.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

OP, it seems you’re getting a lot of conflicting information here. It also seems like you are really wanting to save this hen. Ultimately you know the hen and your kids better than anyone. Make a plan, make sure your household is on board with the situation and the plan, and stick with it. I wish you the best of luck. I really feel for your situation!

 

[sourland]

OP, it seems you’re getting a lot of conflicting information here. It also seems like you are really wanting to save this hen. Ultimately you know the hen and your kids better than anyone. Make a plan, make sure your household is on board with the situation and the plan, and stick with it. I wish you the best of luck. I really feel for your situation!

and do not allow your children access to the birds without extremely close monitoring.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

I mean, I think OP has gotten some very consistent advice.

The reality is that chickens are animals. Every animal is capable of hurting you. Every animal is an animal and unpredictable. Even if you've known them forever that doesn't mean you can 100% trust them. You can't reason with them or know what's going on in their heads. Most animals don't hurt you, but when one does you have to do something about it. You can't keep an animal that attacks you around - but that doesn't mean you have to immediately cull it either.

I think every person here has said;
Put the kids health first.
You can't keep an aggressive chicken.
If the chicken keeps it up or escalates it can't stay.

Now how long OP wants to give that chicken its stay of rehoming to try to fix the behavior, and how you want to go about doing it, is up to OP. But my experience is if you can't fix it in a month you won't fix it in a year. And everyone agrees - if you can't fix it, it should be removed. Whether that's to a stewpot or another house is also up to OP, as long as they make a choice. It's a single aggressive hen. Plenty of people would take a bird like that in gladly.

 

[igorsMistress]

Keep the youngest away from the chickens and don’t let the older one bend down and pet them. How hard is that? Otherwise even with “behavior modification “ you’re always going to have the risk. Animals are unpredictable, train your kids.

 

[hayley3]

I have had chickens a long time and never have I had a chicken that had continuous bad behavior. I'm hoping your chicken settles down, and I believe she will. I would also check to make sure she's not under any stress... and can get away from any bullies.