Pullet puberty

[K0k0shka]

I've read a lot about the males going through puberty and all the drama associated with that. But how about the girls? How does being hormonal affect them in terms of behavior? I've also read that they mellow out a lot after they start laying. Does that mean that they're drama queens up until that point? My pullets are 21 weeks old and not laying yet. The one that's closest to laying (based on the butt check, though her comb is still pale pink) has been acting very grumpy lately. She had some jealousy issues (which have their own thread). That has improved, but now she occasionally pecks me for no reason, even when I'm not holding any of the other chickens (which was her trigger before). And I don't mean the usual "let me get that freckle off for you" kind of curious peck, but pinching and twisting until she leaves a deep bruise that takes a week to clear up... She's an Orp and has always been very sweet and mellow, and was very attached to me when younger, so this is taking me by surprise now. A couple other Orps are acting a bit weird, too. The Barnevelders are chill, no behavior change there, even though they're the same age (but also, they are the farthest from POL, so maybe that's a factor?) I'm curious to see what people with more adolescent chicken experience think.

 

[Weeg]

Hmm, I have had hens that like to peck me, but never an orpington. I don't really know if she will mellow out or not, but it could just be hormones?

 

[K0k0shka]

Hmm, I have had hens that like to peck me, but never an orpington. I don't really know if she will mellow out or not, but it could just be hormones?

Yeah, I was very surprised to see that from an Orpington, too. Especially because it's a recent development - she wasn't always like this. So I'm wondering if she might be having pre-lay PMS or something

 

[rosemarythyme]

I'd generally categorize pullets pre-lay as being flighty. Once they begin laying they stop acting like I'm hauling them off to eat them (or at least they're less inclined to be like that).

 

[K0k0shka]

I'd generally categorize pullets pre-lay as being flighty. Once they begin laying they stop acting like I'm hauling them off to eat them (or at least they're less inclined to be like that).

Good to hear! There might be hope for my Barnevelders then. They don't act like I'm trying to eat them, and if I want to, I can always catch them, but they do try to avoid it if possible. Which is annoying given the massive investment of time and effort I've put into socializing them since they hatched... I'll be curious to see if the two moody Orps chill out after they start laying. They were always my two cuddliest ones. I want them back

 

[rosemarythyme]

Which is annoying given the massive investment of time and effort I've put into socializing them since they hatched... I'll be curious to see if the two moody Orps chill out after they start laying. They were always my two cuddliest ones. I want them back

This is why I don't really bother trying to socialize with chicks in that teen phase... they're too cool for me and I'm tired of chasing them down.

Whatever they were like as older-but-not-yet-teen chicks, there's a good chance they'll end up somewhat similar to that, at least that's been my experience.

 

[K0k0shka]

This is why I don't really bother trying to socialize with chicks in that teen phase... they're too cool for me and I'm tired of chasing them down.

Whatever they were like as older-but-not-yet-teen chicks, there's a good chance they'll end up somewhat similar to that, at least that's been my experience.

Great, thanks! That was my favorite age. I’d love it if they went back to that.

 

[Weeg]

Try getting them to eat from your hands, try giving them some meal worms, and then put some in your hands and see if they will eat from them, or eventually. That is the most socializing I do with my chickens, they hate being picked up, and runs way form me if
I enter the run, so eating from my hands is the best tI can do. Plus if you get you picky orpington, to eat from your hands, it will show her that you are the food provider, and there is no need to be afraid or aggressive to you! It's worth a shot!

 

[K0k0shka]

Try getting them to eat from your hands, try giving them some meal worms, and then put some in your hands and see if they will eat from them, or eventually. That is the most socializing I do with my chickens, they hate being picked up, and runs way form me if
I enter the run, so eating from my hands is the best tI can do. Plus if you get you picky orpington, to eat from your hands, it will show her that you are the food provider, and there is no need to be afraid or aggressive to you! It's worth a shot!

The pecky Orpington is not afraid of me at all. She eats from my hand, sits at my feet, perches on me, and lets me pick her up whenever. She even lets my preschooler pick her up and carry her around. So it’s not a fear thing. I don’t want to repeat myself, since I discussed this in the thread I linked to, but her problem is that she doesn’t like it when I have another chicken in my lap. She will attack said chicken, or if I try to stop her, she’ll start pecking at me. She even gets worked up if the preschooler is in my lap, too She has gotten pretty ridiculous.

 

[thepick4uchicks]

I've read a lot about the males going through puberty and all the drama associated with that. But how about the girls? How does being hormonal affect them in terms of behavior? I've also read that they mellow out a lot after they start laying. Does that mean that they're drama queens up until that point? My pullets are 21 weeks old and not laying yet. The one that's closest to laying (based on the butt check, though her comb is still pale pink) has been acting very grumpy lately. She had some jealousy issues (which have their own thread). That has improved, but now she occasionally pecks me for no reason, even when I'm not holding any of the other chickens (which was her trigger before). And I don't mean the usual "let me get that freckle off for you" kind of curious peck, but pinching and twisting until she leaves a deep bruise that takes a week to clear up... She's an Orp and has always been very sweet and mellow, and was very attached to me when younger, so this is taking me by surprise now. A couple other Orps are acting a bit weird, too. The Barnevelders are chill, no behavior change there, even though they're the same age (but also, they are the farthest from POL, so maybe that's a factor?) I'm curious to see what people with more adolescent chicken experience think.

Hello! I don’t have Buff Orpingtons but have Black Lavender Orpingtons. I have three sisters that I got a day or two old along with three Swedish Flower hens and three Creme Legbars from Meyer Hatchery in May of this year. They are around 18-19 weeks old as of today. I am not expecting them to lay for at least another two to four weeks maybe? My Orps have always been the food bullies and the ones who never like to be separated from the flock. All nine of mine like to sleep clumped close together even now in the MS heat piled up high on the roost boards. These three will sleep standing over the Legbars and Flower hens on the roosts boards keeping watch and insuring that nothing happens or gets by one of them to harm on of their Sissies. They are sweet to me and have never bitten me but in the contrary my Swedish Flower hens have and drawn blood quite a few times once or twice when and when I was not looking. My Legbars are the sweetest and most docile of the bunch and easiest going. They have never bitten any of my family or gone after us or the dogs. The others have done all. The Orpingtons are mellowing out in their tendencies to fly up if there is a surprise or a issue that upsets them out of the blue but I don’t normally try to catch them or pick them up just to be doing it so I haven’t picked them up except for health checks. So they go fine. The Orpingtons do good for those and get better the closer and older they get to Lay. I think you will be happier with them. I feel like I will always be glad I have had them. They are the protectors among the flock but easy going towards me.