Semi aggressive? Head hen at 6 weeks

[The Coop Crew]

Okay I will start by saying I am 100% a newbie.
I have a cream legbar who seems to be the head hen (we have no roosters). She is 6-7 weeks old. Here’s the issue. Whenever I stick my hand in the coop to pet the others or feed them treats she will come up to me and full on open beak “bite” me. When she does this I gently shove her away and tell her no. When I shove her away she puffs her chest up at me. What is this behavior? Normal? Will she stop?

Thanks so much.

Picture of the very cute (and naughty) Blanche

 

[sourland]

She regards you as part of the flock and is trying to subordinate you. Try scooping her up in a short handled fishing net and carrying her around for a bit. They generally hate this and learn to avoid you. (as long as you have the fishing net.)

 

[FrostRanger]

You can also gently but firmly peck her with your fingers and gently pin her down. It may take a few times, but she'll eventually get the idea

 

[The Coop Crew]

She regards you as part of the flock and is trying to subordinate you. Try scooping her up in a short handled fishing net and carrying her around for a bit. They generally hate this and learn to avoid you. (as long as you have the fishing net.)

Thank you! I don’t have one but I’m running to the farm store here shortly so I will grab one. Will she always be like this? I have small children so it worries me but we love her so much.

 

[The Coop Crew]

You can also gently but firmly peck her with your fingers and gently pin her down. It may take a few times, but she'll eventually get the idea

I try to peck her on the head but she’s too fast for me

 

[FrostRanger]

If there are small children involved I would rehome her. A small child can't be expected to deal with a semi-aggressive bird and while chicken bites usually don't do terribly much damage, it still hurts and would 100% sour a child's experience if they had to deal with a bitey hen. There's also no telling if this will escalate if she's already like that that young. She can still be a good layer for someone but she needs to be in a home without children

 

[The Coop Crew]

If there are small children involved I would rehome her. A small child can't be expected to deal with a semi-aggressive bird and while chicken bites usually don't do terribly much damage, it still hurts and would 100% sour a child's experience if they had to deal with a bitey hen. There's also no telling if this will escalate if she's already like that that young. She can still be a good layer for someone but she needs to be in a home without children

Awe man I was hoping it wouldn’t come to this but you’re right. I can’t have her being aggressive with my children. Do you think I should try the net trick and see if that helps first?

 

[wrathsfarm]

No, doing those suggested ideas should tone her down. Right now everybody is establishing the pecking order and your included. You just need to confirm you are the rooster. They will all establish their place, possibly challenging each other for pecking order but the rooster (you in this case) is not part of the flocks pecking order.

 

[FrostRanger]

No, you might be able to get her to respect you, but your children are a different matter entirely, especially since they're much smaller than you. Anyone who would be around her would need to be able to keep her in line

 

[wrathsfarm]

If there are small children involved I would rehome her. A small child can't be expected to deal with a semi-aggressive bird and while chicken bites usually don't do terribly much damage, it still hurts and would 100% sour a child's experience if they had to deal with a bitey hen. There's also no telling if this will escalate if she's already like that that young. She can still be a good layer for someone but she needs to be in a home without children

Sorry but I don't agree here. At 6 weeks she just testing and I would try the suggested...I will agree that children should be kept away from her for now, but I would try to tame her down first. If the aggression doesn't change, then yes, re-home her.