(serious)Aggressive pullet acts like untamed rooster

[Bryce Thomas]

A week ago I was on vacation for just 2 days and I checked on my chickens before going and all was well and normal. After the vacation everything stayed the same but this one pullet acts like the top dog over me, she is now always untying my shoelaces, pecking my back, tries to tear skin off my calves and more. She is definitely NOT a rooster, but she sure as hell acts like one. I have tried to tame her and it has gotten better but after an hour she acts like she is the top dog again. Each time I enter the coop she is always at the door trying to get me to leave. She is not defensive over eggs or anything as she is a pullet. Any ideas why she is behaving this way. Also, any ideas for me to use on her so she can 'know her place'(in the pecking order)?

 

[6BeachChicks]

A week ago I was on vacation for just 2 days and I checked on my chickens before going and all was well and normal. After the vacation everything stayed the same but this one pullet acts like the top dog over me, she is now always untying my shoelaces, pecking my back, tries to tear skin off my calves and more. She is definitely NOT a rooster, but she sure as hell acts like one. I have tried to tame her and it has gotten better but after an hour she acts like she is the top dog again. Each time I enter the coop she is always at the door trying to get me to leave. She is not defensive over eggs or anything as she is a pullet. Any ideas why she is behaving this way. Also, any ideas for me to use on her so she can 'know her place'(in the pecking order)?

Is she moulting?

 

[Bryce Thomas]

Is she moulting?

Nope. She is a naked neck and its wintertime where I am, her feathers have grown in beautifully besides her neck, obviously.

 

[STACEYH]

That sounds like your top pullet. Mine did this so I treated her as if I was the rooster. I would reach down she would squat. I lay the palm of my hand on her back firmly and pull her neck feathers. This was to simulated the mating. She stopped pecking. She is a loud squawker though.

 

[Bryce Thomas]

That sounds like your top pullet. Mine did this so I treated her as if I was the rooster. I would reach down she would squat. I lay the palm of my hand on her back firmly and pull her neck feathers. This was to simulated the mating. She stopped pecking. She is a loud squawker though.

She is a bowtie NN which means she has a tiny amount of feathers in the middle of her neck. So I just hold her down and pull the feathers and that's it? If so, thank you since it sounds easy!

 

[STACEYH]

You do have to be firm, let her know you're the boss. Shhhh don't jinx it lol. It was easy for me.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

If a chicken pecks me I take my finger and peck them back firmly three times. Mine always seem to get the hint after that and my grandpa always swore by it

 

[aart]

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.