She BIT me

[IrishAcreFarm]

Well, my question has been answered. Went out there this morning, and she literally went after me, feet flying, hackles raised. I tapped her with my fingers and she whipped around to bite me. I started trying to walk away and she started advancing towards me with hackles up. I had a tupperware container in my hand and I bopped her with it, and she again flew at me with feet and wings. This time I booted her in the chest as she meant to do damage. She again came at me, I couldn't believe she was so persistent/aggressive. Biting is one thing, but her charging me with hackles raised and trying to flog me again and again is another.

We will cull her this afternoon and have chicken for dinner.

So disappointed, I was really looking forward to her beautiful eggs and it breaks my hear to have to cull one of the girls in my small flock, but I will NOT tolerate that kind of attitude from a chicken.

I totally agree with your decision. Having a backyard flock should be rewarding and fun. An aggressive bird like that shouldnt be around any families. Sorry you have to go through that.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

By petting your hens they now view you as a subordinate member of the flock, not as their lord and master. Your hen is only doing what chickens do naturally, and that is keeping low ranking or subordinate members of the flock in their place, which is anywhere the dominant hen wants them to be. By play pecking with the dominant hen you challenged her right to be the flock leader. Her response was predictable.

Congratulations, you have now become one with your flock. Either that or your Uber hen is mad at you for not bring her all the treats than she thinks that she is entitled to. HAGD.

 

[crazyfeathers]

Culling is something we all have done at some point. It shows that you are a responsible chicken owner and a concerned parent. Don't feel bad about your choice, besides chicken dinner sounds wonderful. It is also a great learning experience for your child. She is a beautiful bird. Best of luck.

 

[bobbi-j]

Kudos to you for getting rid of your aggressive hen. Not everyone would.

 

[cgmccary]

Well, my question has been answered. Went out there this morning, and she literally went after me, feet flying, hackles raised. I tapped her with my fingers and she whipped around to bite me. I started trying to walk away and she started advancing towards me with hackles up. I had a tupperware container in my hand and I bopped her with it, and she again flew at me with feet and wings. This time I booted her in the chest as she meant to do damage. She again came at me, I couldn't believe she was so persistent/aggressive. Biting is one thing, but her charging me with hackles raised and trying to flog me again and again is another.

We will cull her this afternoon and have chicken for dinner.

So disappointed, I was really looking forward to her beautiful eggs and it breaks my hear to have to cull one of the girls in my small flock, but I will NOT tolerate that kind of attitude from a chicken.

FWIW, Unlike roosters / cockerels, I have noticed my hens will fight each other, nothing serious, they are just establishing a pecking order (and it is usually about food). Once they fight, get it out of their systems, one dominates and it is settled. Perhaps, you get the better of your hen in a skirmish and that will settle it (you as dominant). I have also had a dominant / top hen attack dogs and cats that messed with the flock, sometime to their misfortune & of course, a hen with chicks, you can expect to get flogged (depending on the breed). If you are seriously breeding, then you will want to consider a hen carrying a trait may get passed to a son (I always cull aggression in males & no longer see it in my flock).

 

[chicksurreal]

Kudos to you for getting rid of your aggressive hen. Not everyone would.

Yeah, I don't think I would be able to, I would probably isolate her for a bit or try something else.

That said, I've never had this happen, so I don't know for sure what I would do. I think that people who have young children are smart to get rid of aggressive animals.

 

[Mrs. K]

Nothing ruins chickens for kids as being attacked! Glad you got her gone.

 

[NorthChicken]

Nothing ruins chickens for kids as being attacked! Glad you got her gone.

Exactly. The last thing I wanted was for a chicken to attack my son. She went for my face and bit me, what was to stop her for going for his? And I would have never forgiven myself if she caused damage to his eyes, those beaks are scary strong. She is a chicken, he is my child, it wasn't a tough decision in that department.

It was sad to have to cull one of my girls, having a small flock you do get attached to them. I want to enjoy my flock, and yes, I DO want to pet them like so many other chicken owners do without incident. If I can't pet my chickens occasionally without it turning into a case like this, then maybe I shouldn't even own them.

I am just sad and frustrated. I thought chickens were easy and fun, I shouldn't be nervous to go out to the coop.

 

[Beekissed]

I have a low tolerance for biting pets, just want to know if this is some normal chicken thing that I need to learn to tolerate, or if she is going to get worse? Any advice?

No, it's not normal and no you shouldn't tolerate it and, yes, she could get worse if not trained out of it and even then, she may revert to this behavior. You can try to train her like a dominant flock member would and see if it works. If it does not, most experienced flock masters will cull an overly aggressive bird~be it female or male.

Training involves grabbing her quickly by the comb or head, hold it until she is struggling and trying to get away, then just give her a toss to one side...sort of a slinging motion. It won't hurt her but it will startle her. Watch her at the feeder...it's likely she is aggressive there too, so nip it in the bud. Grab her head, pinch the comb, give it a shake and fling her a bit. Then don't let her into the feeder...just use your hands or a stick to herd her away from the feeder and out of the coop until everyone else is done eating. Don't let her eat while you are there.

If this does not retrain her from this aggressiveness, I'd advise you get rid of her or eat her. A bad temperament should never be tolerated in livestock, particularly around small children. Her move to jump up and bite your face is particularly aggressive and she can put out an eye with that move.

 

[3KillerBs]

I think that you've made the right choice. There are so many good-tempered chickens in the world that there's no need to put up with an aggressive animal.