Suddenly Aggressive Hen?

[HomesteadAndHobby]

Hoping someone can help me with this! I have a flock of 10 leghorns, a silky, 2 wyandottes, and 3 roosters (all bantam roos, just matured and are going to be in a separate coop and run shortly, but so far everyone has been getting along). The leghorns are all about 18 months old now, all the rest are new this year. Despite what everyone says, my leghorns have been the absolute sweetest girls! ...up until now. My very favorite and sweetest chicken, Franny, has suddenly started coming at me aggressively. (See photo of her feet lifting off the ground as she attempts to gouge out my eyes.) This chick used to seek me out to cuddle, now she is actively trying to attack, and growling at me in the run. Is this just a leghorn going broody, although rare? She isn't sitting on eggs, just being mean to me. Or is this an issue with the roosters maturing maybe? I haven't had roosters before, this was the result of straight run chicks that were mostly roos.... my mistake. They have all been together since March without any issue. We don't let them free range due to the neighbors (they were wandering too far) and a large amount of hawks, but their run is 10 sq ft per chicken as recommended. No one is sick, no medical issues or excessive pecking that I see. What is going on?!

 

[thecatumbrella]

I had a hen turn on me. Lots of things could trigger it. Hormones (including broodiness, like you mentioned), changes to the flock, stressors in the environment (like predators or excessive noise).

Even though 10 sqft/bird gets thrown around A LOT, I find it woefully inadequate. I have closer to 27 sqft/bird and it still feels too small sometimes. Can you expand their enclosure at all? How many roos do you have? Even though removing flock members is a stressor in itself, it might be worth doing to give the birds more breathing room. You could also add (or shuffle around) enrichment items in the pen: things to jump on and hide under, boxes with different substrates to dig in, hanging toys with vegetable scraps or pellets, etc.

As to the aggressor herself, the only thing I've found to knock them out of it is picking them up. Nicely of course, with support underneath on the keel and back of the wings, but without squeezing. No pets or anything. I'll just carry them around and talk to them until they stop fighting and go limp. Then I'll put them back down and let them scamper off. It creates a non-violent cause and effect. You attack me, I pick you up until you calm down.

I'm sure others will have much better suggestions, but this is just what works for me.

 

[HomesteadAndHobby]

I had a hen turn on me. Lots of things could trigger it. Hormones (including broodiness, like you mentioned), changes to the flock, stressors in the environment (like predators or excessive noise).

Even though 10 sqft/bird gets thrown around A LOT, I find it woefully inadequate. I have closer to 27 sqft/bird and it still feels too small sometimes. Can you expand their enclosure at all? How many roos do you have? Even though removing flock members is a stressor in itself, it might be worth doing to give the birds more breathing room. You could also add (or shuffle around) enrichment items in the pen: things to jump on and hide under, boxes with different substrates to dig in, hanging toys with vegetable scraps or pellets, etc.

As to the aggressor herself, the only thing I've found to knock them out of it is picking them up. Nicely of course, with support underneath on the keel and back of the wings, but without squeezing. No pets or anything. I'll just carry them around and talk to them until they stop fighting and go limp. Then I'll put them back down and let them scamper off. It creates a non-violent cause and effect. You attack me, I pick you up until you calm down.

I'm sure others will have much better suggestions, but this is just what works for me.

Yes, we are planning to make a sort of 3 sectioned coop and run, and we plan to add more run space when we do. I'm trying to have a section for the hens, a bachelor's coop and run for the roosters, then a third section that is smaller for whatever occasion arises - controlled breeding, hatching, integrating, etc. I have heard that carrying them around calms them, so I will give that a shot .. though I really hope she doesn't draw blood in the process! I did pick her up last night but did not put her close to me because I was a little nervous she would peck my face!

Right now we have 3 roos in there- one is a silky and he is hardly what I would call a rooster. He just frolics around and does a sad crow here and there, and he is BY FAR the biggest (though I thought they were supposed to stay small...). Then I have a fluer d'uccle, he is pretty chill, doesn't really do much. I've seen him mount only a couple times, crows on the regular, and he is teeny. Now the THIRD roo... He is a whopping 1 lb golden seabright- smallest chicken in there, and also the most fierce. We named him Little Ricky, but he does have a Napoleon complex. Crows constantly, mounts the girls probably 30-40 times daily, but with his size compared to the girls, they certainly hold their own. And I can't be mad because he is a GOOD rooster, does all the right rooster things! He would certainly put his life on the line for the hens! None of the roosters have been aggressive or even overly pecky, just skittish towards us really. No signs of him pulling out feathers or anything. But- I realize even if they seem peaceful now, 3 roosters in there can cause some issues! Though I do think between the breeds themselves, the size, and the fact that they all grew up together has probably helped a bit. But, still going to separate them just in case.

 

[thecatumbrella]

Right now we have 3 roos in there- one is a silky and he is hardly what I would call a rooster. He just frolics around and does a sad crow here and there, and he is BY FAR the biggest (though I thought they were supposed to stay small...). Then I have a fluer d'uccle, he is pretty chill, doesn't really do much. I've seen him mount only a couple times, crows on the regular, and he is teeny. Now the THIRD roo... He is a whopping 1 lb golden seabright- smallest chicken in there, and also the most fierce. We named him Little Ricky, but he does have a Napoleon complex. Crows constantly, mounts the girls probably 30-40 times daily, but with his size compared to the girls, they certainly hold their own. And I can't be mad because he is a GOOD rooster, does all the right rooster things! He would certainly put his life on the line for the hens! None of the roosters have been aggressive or even overly pecky, just skittish towards us really. No signs of him pulling out feathers or anything. But- I realize even if they seem peaceful now, 3 roosters in there can cause some issues! Though I do think between the breeds themselves, the size, and the fact that they all grew up together has probably helped a bit. But, still going to separate them just in case.

To be honest, I'd rather get eaten by a predator than mounted on the hour by Little Ricky.

Hope you're able to make some changes and get your relationship with Franny back where you want it to be!

 

[HomesteadAndHobby]

To be honest, I'd rather get eaten by a predator than mounted on the hour by Little Ricky.

Hope you're able to make some changes and get your relationship with Franny back where you want it to be!

I hear that! He is a bit much! I am sure it will be welcomed when I pull the guys out! Thank you! I figure worst case scenario, I just bring her into my office and cuddle her all day until she likes me again