Sudden bourbon hen aggression

[txroads]

Hi folks……
I’ve got a two year old bourbon red hen. Up till three months ago she’s been the sweetest thing around. Now she can’t stand the sight of anything or anyone…. I’ve read articles that say it could be a change in feed (sodium content) or a change in habitat ( she’s been in the same hut the whole two years)…she’s got a Tom and another hen with her but she don’t pay them no never mind….any ideas are much appreciated and thanks

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Turkeys can be emotional birds. She's aggressive with people? Or the other turkeys? Sometimes a protein deficiency can make birds more aggressive. They also can be more aggressive during the breeding season. How big is their pen?

 

[txroads]

Thanks so much for the reply….I read the same thing somewhere about the protein deficiency and also about a salt deficiency. No she’s got an attitude now with people and turkeys……their inside pen is probably 12x12 with two six foot long roosting bars…..their outside pen is probably 30x30 and they’re out on the weekends to forage on three acres. She shares her pen with one other hen and a gobbler. The food they get is the nature wise all flock crumbles which is 18% protein.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I had a hen turn aggressive with me a few years ago. One day she suddenly hated me. I just carried a walking stick when I went in the pen to poke her away. She kept it up for a few years until something got her one night.

Not sure what you can do about it except make her into dinner. I threatened mine with it daily. My dominant hen at the time didn't like it either and she started to display like a Tom at the hen. Than there would be some chasing and fighting. It was disruptive.

 

[txroads]

When I go into the outside pen she just follows behind me. When I go into their sleep pen she does that long curl warning sound but she’s never really come after me…..MY WIFE on the other hand, lol but it shouldn’t be funny, I can hear the two of them arguing with each other all the way across the property and she has chased her…….I guess it’s gonna be a big wait and see……..
Thanks so much for the conversation…have a blessed day