Sweet Clover is Becoming a T-Rex!

[Magnolia7330]

I could use some help. I currently have 6 pullets. As of last week I had 4 that we had raise from chicks-Clover (welsummer), Lulu (easter egger), Stella (white leghorn), and Crow (black australorp). Our chickens have always been fairly sweet although prefer not to be picked up. On 8/21, the day of the eclipse, Stella laid the flocks very first egg. They were 19 weeks old. Well, Clover saw me take the egg out of the nest box and reared up at me and tried to bite me! She had never done that before. Actually, she was our tamest and most people friendly bird. I smacked her when she did it, because I wasn't expecting it. She was okay until later in the week.

On Friday my boyfriend picked up two more pullets: Turkey (supposed Mottled Java, but is actually a mystery) and Mary (buckeye). He didn't know he was supposed to quarantine them and then do a slow integration. So, he tried just putting them with the other chicks. Stella and Crow began chasing them around and trying to peck their eyes. He then got our dog's kennel and stuck it in the chicken run and put Turkey and Mary in there, so we can start the slow transition.

The rest of Friday our previous 4 pullets seemed very overly loving, including Clover. Saturday morning I went to see the girls and Clover bit me on the hand. I read somewhere on the forum to make her squat down so I tried that and she left me alone for awhile. This morning I went out cleaned the run, watered everything down, gave electrolytes (supposed to be 108 today and tomorrow), gave them some mash, etc. Well, Clover again bit me and kept trying to rear up at me.

So, is this behavior somewhat normal? There are a lot of new things happening all at once: she is close to laying, we had our first egg, we have two new pullets, and now we are in a heat streak. What should I do when she does this? I want her to be the sweet chicken she was. Also, to note, she has not drawn blood. Thank you for the help.

 

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

Sounds like she is top of the peck order. Some hens like that tend to act roosterish if there are no boys around.

Of course, I have roosters. Too many, at that. And I have a hen that comes up and pecks me until I pick her up and stroke her beard. Not aggressive, just annoying.

 

[aart]

I read somewhere on the forum to make her squat down so I tried that and she left me alone for awhile.

Keep doing this. Stay calm cool confident.

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.