Pullet acting like rooster when I have a rooster in flock already

[21hens-incharge]

I am wondering if she does this because she feels cornered or threatened and fight or flight is kicking in. If she cannot get away she is forced into the fight response.

 

[aart]

She continues to peck at me when I go into the run and quite aggressively, thankfully she is only 4 months old and it doesn’t hurt but still it’s obnoxious.

Peck her back!

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.