Protective Hen

[Courtneyeve]

one of my hens has become protective of the eggs when I go to collect them. I don't think she is broody as she isn't sitting in the nest boxes but just tries to peck at me and bawks up at the egg when it's in my hands. I'm also not sure if it's her egg or my other girls egg. Does any one know what this may mean and if I can prevent it?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Half of mine don't care, the other half try to rip my hand off. It's just an instinct to protect their young, don't take it personally.

 

[FlyingNunFarm]

I have a girl that does the pterodactyl screech when I approach her in the neck box. She's pecked me pretty good a couple times. Like oldhenlikesdogs said, it's not personal. Can be scary as hell sometimes but instinct. First time I heard a chicken make that noise I thought she was going spew pea soup.