Pullet suddenly aggressive

[jonalisa]

Hello all,
I have 14 chickens, of which 3 are pullets. The 3 were very close until today 2 of them got into a fight. I separated them and had to Blu-kote both for bloody combs and wattles.
Both are marans, one a black copper and the other a white marans. Once they were back in the coop, the white one continued to be aggressive, sneaking up on other hens and plucking feathers from their butts. She would not stop. She also chased hens lower on the pecking order. And she has been getting more aggressive over time... I would say the last 2 weeks. She was so calm and easy going not long ago. Now twice when I've held her, she's tried to peck my mouth!
Because it is so cold here, I have had to keep the door to the coop shut. (It's a 10x10 shed with lots of windows, so while there's room and plenty of light, taking away access to the run means no where to go for some hens who want to get away.) So, now I have the white pullet in the house in a large brooder "jail".

What could be the cause and what should I do now?

 

[JedJackson]

A 10 x 10 shed is too small for 14 chickens when they are totally confined, so I think that is the source of this sudden behavior. Confined large breed chickens want at least 10 square feet per bird-- a 10 x 10 coop provides only 100 sq. feet while 14 chickens should have 140 sq. feet if totally confined. So the best solution would be to enlarge the coop or let the chickens go outside.

You could try getting rid of the white hen but often in this kind of situation another will take her place and do the same thing.

 

[red horse ranch]

Sometimes when I have an aggressive bird I will keep them in 'jail' for a few days. It seems to take them down a notch. It doesn't always work for roosters but hopefully it will with a hen.
I've been letting my birds out to free range as long as the temp is above 15 degrees. They love to peck at the snow and they will go back in the coop when they get cold. Even an hour or two a day seems to help their mood.

 

[jonalisa]

Thanks. I brought her back out while still light out and while all the other hens were on the roost. She went right up the ramp and started pecking hens at random. So, I bought her back in. Tomorrow, I will leave the door to to the run open ( which by the way, I do only close it when the temps are in the teens or less). It looks like the temps will be in the 30's this week. (-8 right now!). I have a 12x16' run attached that is winterized with plastic and two pop doors. I spend a lot of time out there hanging out with them and it never seemed overcrowded, but maybe you are right. Worth addressing.

 

[Abriana]

Is she broody? I have a hen sort of like that, but not as extreme. Her name is coral and she’s a GLW. She will pluck feathers out of my cockerel, Chickie, and out of my bantam, Bantam, for no apparent reason at all.
This morning she pecked Lucy, my EE (who is higher in the pecking order) and then quickly ran. Lucy immediately bolted up making angry noises like “who pecked me? Who dared peck me?” It wasn’t a hard peck, so I laughed a little. Poor Lucy, just happily foraging and some naughty low pecking order hen comes on a peck and run.
Hopefully the situation with your white hen works out! Maybe a rooster to keep her in line would help.

 

[Welshies]

Your birds do not need to be cooped up unless it gets below -4°F.

 

[Abriana]

Chickens begin to suffer at 20F, and if you have large combed breeds, it should stay above 32F.
Be sure to buy heat lamps that are made for poultry and do NOT have Teflon in them. It is very toxic to birds and there was a thread recently about 7 that were killed because of a heat lamp with Teflon in it. Please be careful and spread the word too!
I recommend prima heat lamps. They have a protective cover that keeps wood shavings/feathers away from the bulb and lower fire risks. I use them in my coop and sleep much better knowing my chickens are safe AND warm.
Good luck!

 

[Welshies]

Chickens begin to suffer at 20F, and if you have large combed breeds, it should stay above 32F.
Be sure to buy heat lamps that are made for poultry and do NOT have Teflon in them. It is very toxic to birds and there was a thread recently about 7 that were killed because of a heat lamp with Teflon in it. Please be careful and spread the word too!
I recommend prima heat lamps. They have a protective cover that keeps wood shavings/feathers away from the bulb and lower fire risks. I use them in my coop and sleep much better knowing my chickens are safe AND warm.
Good luck!

Chickens don't need heat until it gets to -4°F or below. Avoid heat, if possible. Your chickens will become dependent on it. To reduce frostbite increase your ventilation and use vaseline. I have marans and they are frostbite free up to -40°F. That's right, MINUS 40°F.

 

[Folly's place]

Could there be a diet issue? Enough protein, and is it balanced? Hiding places, different levels of roosts, general habitat enrichment to combat boredom. How about a flock block?
You can isolate your nasty pullet for a week or two, and then reintroduce her, and see if that helps.
Hopefully having everyone out again will make a difference, with the better weather.
Mary

 

[CannedMonster]

Chickens don't need heat until it gets to -4°F or below. Avoid heat, if possible. Your chickens will become dependent on it. To reduce frostbite increase your ventilation and use vaseline. I have marans and they are frostbite free up to -40°F. That's right, MINUS 40°F.

I agree with Welshies. If you supply your birds with heat and you lose power for an extended length of time, they will struggle with it because they're not acclimated to the conditions of your area.