Our hen attacked my two young kids

[Wyorp Rock]

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.

I get that she's part of the family. I get that she's a pet.
I get that it ticked you off. Been there, done that ... believe me.
I don't really find this funny at all and I suppose the point was lost on most...when the tables were turned there, it didn't seem quite such the thing to do did it?
Here's the reality...
Chasing her, pecking at her, poking her with a stick and withholding treats, what is that gaining? This behavior is going to frustrate not only you, but the pullet too - stress is not good for anyone. I doubt she even understands what or why you are doing all this. And the route you're taking - It's not something you want to teach your kids is it?
If you don't want to get rid of her, then don't. Keep kids out of the pullets faces, you may find that is the solution you are looking for.

 

[DouglasB]

If you have no rooster with your hens as a protector of the flock, one of the hens will adopt that role. If you cull it, another will take its place.

 

[aart]

would be devastating for the kids especially

Not as devastating as blindness or other physical/emotional trauma of being attacked by a chicken.

 

[doughouse]

Chasing her, pecking at her, poking her with a stick and withholding treats, what is that gaining? This behavior is going to frustrate not only you, but the pullet too - stress is not good for anyone. I doubt she even understands what or why you are doing all this. And the route you're taking - It's not something you want to teach your kids is it?

I'm specifically asking for guidance on the best way to deal with an aggressive hen. Right now my approach is based on this BYC article I read a while back on rooster behavior modification (it took me a while to find it again): https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/rooster-behavior-modification.72983/

As well as this shorter article on aggressive hens: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aggressive-dominant-hens.74197/

My thinking is that we need to respond in a way that chickens will understand. Chickens don't pick each other up and carry each other around like footballs when challenged: they peck back. Is this a bad approach? What should we do instead if it is? That's what I'm seeking feedback on.

 

[21hens-incharge]

While my personal experience was with cockerels and my kid was 9 at the time......my 2 cents anyway.

My son was fine with going in, gathering eggs, adding feed or water before the attack by the cockerel it was terrifying for him. He refused to go in the coop even after I had caged (literally in a cage) that cockerel.

Personally I cannot recommend keeping a bird that is bold enough to nail a human of any size.

Sad to send them off? Yes. Sadder if the child receives a lifelong scar or is blinded by that same bird.

Either they are separate always from the children or they need to move along.

 

[Trisseh]

I'm specifically asking for guidance on the best way to deal with an aggressive hen. Right now my approach is based on this BYC article I read a while back on rooster behavior modification (it took me a while to find it again): https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/rooster-behavior-modification.72983/

As well as this shorter article on aggressive hens: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aggressive-dominant-hens.74197/

My thinking is that we need to respond in a way that chickens will understand. Chickens don't pick each other up and carry each other around like footballs when challenged: they peck back. Is this a bad approach? What should we do instead if it is? That's what I'm seeking feedback on.

Chickens also don’t pick up sticks and continue poking the other chicken long after it’s moved out of their space, unless they’re a bully and need to be dealt with. You do not want to be a part of the pecking order, you’re not a chicken, you don’t respond like a chicken. If your dog were to do something similar would you bite the dog back because that’s something another dog would do? You actually are not physically capable of responding as another chicken would, no person is; you don’t have wings, a beak, and clawed feet. You don’t and can’t move in a way another chicken would. I agree that a lot of solutions such as carrying the bird around or holding them in various configurations, while it may work for some, probably won’t help you in this case. But hey, if you want to try it, no harm.

in the second article you cited, I think the main point to take away is not so much the “do as a chicken would” but the fact that you stand your ground when challenged, advance if they don’t back off, and make them calmly move out of your space. You’re not then chasing them around, you move them out of your space and that’s the end of it. This is not something the youngest should be involved in, and probably not the older child either as his height puts him at a disadvantage and risk of injury still.

you need to not anthropomorphise the chicken - it’s not a person and doesn’t reason through things like a person would. It’s hard to do with pets, but it’s important so we don’t inadvertently project onto the animal. try to understand WHY the behaviour is being expressed - often that’s the crux of the problem, we don’t see what we’re doing that sets the animal off. Kids often get the brunt of the bad behaviours because they move differently, sound different, and none of these things are their fault, they’re kids! Doesn’t matter how awesome the kid is, or how quiet they are. Their non verbal cues often are the problem and takes time and experience to change. But traumatizing them now, because of one aggressive pullet that is capable and obviously willing to do damage, well... my mom is still terrified of chickens down to this day. She’s 60 years old and will never forget the aggressive birds that attacked her when she went to collect eggs with her aunt when she was 5 years old. She has scars on her face from them.

either confine the bird so no altercations can happen at least when the kids are present, keep the kids out of the birds’ space whether that means the entire coop and run or just not up close and personal with the birds, or rehome the pullet. You can definitely try confinement and see how things go, but keep in mind that some individual birds just aren’t suited to the situation you have found yourself in.

Believe me, none of us here take aggressive birds lightly. It’s heartbreaking when one of the friendliest chicks turns into a tyrant. There’s no “one size fits all” way of dealing with a situation like this, and all we can do is give you our opinions based on our experiences and our understanding of your situation. We aren’t in your shoes so it makes it a little more difficult to work through, but we can give you suggestions to try.
The good news? Kids are resilient and even if you do have to rehome this girl and replace her, what kid doesn’t like to get a new baby chick?

 

[aart]

I'm specifically asking for guidance on the best way to deal with an aggressive hen.

Dealing with aggressive birds has more to do with the humans behaviors involved than the birds.
Each human needs to be able to handle it, an 18 month old human does not have the wherewithal to adjust their own behaviors.

 

[Liz Birdlover]

Have a similar hen & roo. The hen is not nice to kids that are little & just visiting. It really surprised me because she's normally very nice to everyone. I thought maybe it's because she's not used to seeing little people often. She did it again a week later, different kids visiting. I was watering flowers & aimed the hose at her, averting an attack, but it became clear, just can't trust her with kids. Anyone 3 yrs old & under, she just doesn't like. I thought of arming any kids with water guns but what is better in my case, just put her elsewhere when little kids visit, which is not often. In your case, you all live there, so separating temporarily is a challenge. You chasing & pecking her afterwards may or may not work. I know in my experiences, aggressive behavior only reinforces, teaches and causes yet more aggressive behavior. What she may be learning is to run & hide fast after she gets one good kick in...sometimes it becomes a game to them. I have a mean roo that when I try to shove him away when he attacks, he just comes back for more! He goes after Everyone, even me. The only solution that works with him, when he charges to attack, I quickly run towards him, scoop him up & tuck him under my arm before he gets a chance to spur or bite. He expects me to run from him, not towards, so even after years of this "game" he still looks shocked when I grab him up. You'd think he'd learn by now, don't be mean to the mealworm lady, but they're gonna do what the think they're supposed to do. Quickly scooping up your hen is not going to work if you can't watch her & kids constantly (yeah right, like who can watch constantly?)
Well, you'll either have to figure out how to keep her & kids separated somehow, or find her a new home. Sorry I don't have a better idea.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

I'm specifically asking for guidance on the best way to deal with an aggressive hen. Right now my approach is based on this BYC article I read a while back on rooster behavior modification (it took me a while to find it again): https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/rooster-behavior-modification.72983/

As well as this shorter article on aggressive hens: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aggressive-dominant-hens.74197/

My thinking is that we need to respond in a way that chickens will understand. Chickens don't pick each other up and carry each other around like footballs when challenged: they peck back. Is this a bad approach? What should we do instead if it is? That's what I'm seeking feedback on.

Hi Doghouse, I’m a chicken keeper and mom, but also have a reactive dog and have worked with behavior modification in her. I’ve also worked with herds of poorly trained horses and used behavioral techniques to work as safely as possible with them. We also keep a bachelor flock of cockerels and roosters, plus flock master roosters in with hens. From all of these experiences, I have a bit of a different perspective and philosophy on behavioral modification. My philosophy is more in line with the article linked here:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/a-viewpoint-on-managing-roosters.74690


I think that for modifying behavior in your hen, you need first understand why she is attacking your kids, then seek to modify her behavior, using that understanding. From your description of her behavior and your response, I expect that your hen is deeply confused; she already respected you (she didn’t attack you, only other people), but you behaved in a very threatening and scary way towards her, freaking her out enough that she was cowering and hiding. Even so, she may not have drawn the correlation you expect, that attacking kids results in terrifying behavior on your part.

You seem very invested in your hens and doing what’s best for them, which is really sweet and lovely. However, changing behavior is hard, and animals are unpredictable. Behavior is the result of genes and environment; I suspect that your pullet has a genetic predilection for taking care of her flock, much like a rooster would. This particular pullet is exhibiting somewhat unusually aggressive behavior, suggesting that her temperament is on the dominant/protective end of the usual hen behavior spectrum. Your setup with young kids may not really be a great environment for a hen that has the drive that this pullet has. She can’t safely be as dominant and protective as she feels driven to be, setting up a situation with constant conflict and confusion for her.

I think it’s really great that you at least have the option of another home for her. Rehoming her and one other pullet would make that transition smoother for her. Your kids would be sad at first but this also opens space in your coop for fuzzy chicks in spring, maybe from more docile breeds, like silkies or buff Orpingtons. Chicken keeping can be a lot of fun, and with two small kids and the general exhaustion that comes with little ones, why do it if it’s not fun?

Even with the most docile hens, you will need to always be alert for their safety around animals. With a hen that is known to attack kids, your level of attention and anxiety would always remain high. Best of luck with your chicken keeping - I hope for an enjoyable experience for you and your family!

 

[Allthefloofs]

I am sorry this is happening to you and your kids! I thought a lot about this thread, I have two kids who adore our chickens and I definitely think of our girls as pets, not livestock. We don't plan on eating our gals ever, they will live out their lives with us regardless of egg production. That being said I would rehome any chicken that showed any aggression toward any member of the family. I would sit my kids down (I know you have a youngster too little to understand this part really well) and I would explain to them that one of life's lessons with pets is that when an animal acts in ways that might be harmful and scary it is best for everyone that he/she is in a place where they can't hurt someone. They don't know that it is harmful and scary the way we do. If that means they have to be rehomed to a place where there aren't kids then that is the best result for everyone. I would tell my kids it's okay to feel sad about it, they really should feel sad about rehoming a beloved pet! As time goes on we will have good memories and the needs of that animal will have been met, we have acted with love. I say this with some small amount of experience because we had ordered some pullet chicks and one turned out to be a cockerel and we had to rehome him. He was, of course, the favorite chicken and my kids were very, very, sad. Our example didn't have to do with behavior, but kids are very resilient and if you are receptive to their sadness and accept it as a part of life it actually becomes a really great lesson for them. I feel for you, seeing our kids sad about giving a pet away hurts, and we usually have our own feelings of grief or guilt too to deal with. I hope you can help her with her behavior, but I would not trust her alone with kids anymore. Good luck, I know it's a tough thing to have to make a decision on and I feel for you.