Update: Pissy -> Going Blind Chicky?

[hcppam]

Quote:
Agreed. Sounds like she's being defensive. Just let the poor thing be - she already gets picked on by the rest of the flock, and now her owners who are supposed to be her protectors. Give her time, let her approach you, and you MIGHT be able to regain her trust so she'll let you pick her up, or do whatever it is you're trying to do when she thinks you're attacking her.

she probably thinks your going to kick her off like the other hens try?

 

[klmclain1]

How old is she? Is she just in that nasty "tween" stage? Try singling her out with treats so she associates you with good things!

 

[ezekielSM]

Oddly, when they all sit on the perch, there's no fighting. It's only squabble time with Chai picking on Stormy over food/water or if she gets too close.
But yeah, she is in the weird 'tween' phase, a few months old. In about 2-3 months or so she should start laying. She's making rrk-rrrkk noises in between chirps.

 

[sumi]

Read Desmond Morris's books? He's a people watcher and his observations are stunning. He reckons we are all sheep. Baa baa, (I'm a) black sheep! I personally enjoyed Paulo Coelho's books, especially "Veronica Decides To Die" I totally recommend it, very accurate observation of people. But for the occasional, unnecessary, vulgar bits I'd give it 10/10.
Give your girl an extra cuddle from me. Got a photo for us?

 

[greenSearcher]

I would suggest a second feeder and waterer to ease the crush at feeding time. I keep the feeders out in the run, and the waterer out in the chicken yard. (it is fenced). My coops are small, basically for sleeping and access to the nest boxes. I don't feed in the coop, I don't want to encourage fire ants looking for protein based food in there.

I don't finger thump for biting, but I pinch the beak close and say no, maybe give a gentle little shake too. I do that from the time they are in the brooder, particularly if they are trying to eat the skin tabs on my neck. Yes, Ow! I accept pecks, but not bites.

 

[ezekielSM]

Hey all-

I've done the multiple water/feeder thing, but the big girls chase her away from both regardless of which they're at at the time that I put Stormy down to feed her. I don't keep my girls outdoors- can't in an apartment. So I take them out for time in the woods in an enclosure; they're starting to figure it out. In the meantime, they're still indoors.

Spoiled girls. (PS: yes, the book was good. :} I agree, most people are sheep- they don't question society or how it ticks very often, if at all. Fascinating stuff to think about.)

Today I patted her just fine with my right hand, and she's learned not to peck my left, but when I had her on my lap to pat her, she started randomly attacking my arm when it was just laying there in front of her doing nothing. These were two deliberate bites. I've tried doing the beak-grab, but she's non-beak-grabbable (ie: too fast). After I tapped her head and said BAD again, she went quiet and settled in so I patted her, said 'good girl' and been patting her since.

I wonder if I'm dealing with a roo or just a pissy in betweener hen. What's weird now is the random aggression. (I tapped her head lightly and said NO again; she stopped and she's being good while I'm typing this with her in my lap.) I'm wondering if she's pushing it with me trying to figure out if I'm also an alpha hen or something.

Let's see.. lemme grab a photo of her.

She used to be so completely docile. I wonder if she's got a teenager's attitude or something, but I hope it goes soon.

Here's my B&%#^y almost-laying hen:

She needs to cut out the attitude.

 

[epeloquin]

There's nothing wrong with a thump. It is not dissimilar to how they deal with each other. You mentioned patting her when she settled in and sat down and that is just as important. Too many people start anthropomorphizing chickens (assigning human qualities to a non-human subject). As much as we love our chickens they are animals. It's Pavlov's dogs. Unwanted behavior gets negative stimuli, desired behavior gets positive stimuli - cause and effect. Simple.

I have a barred rock who is a peach. She likes to sit with me and sometimes will sit on my shoulder. A few weeks ago she began nipping my ear from time to time. At first I just put my hand in the way and she would stop and just perch on my shoulder or go to sleep on the back of my neck. Then last week she got hold of my ear, right on that hard edge above the earlobe and she gave a good tug and it freaking hurt!! I instinctively grabbed for my ear but I inadvertently grabbed her by the face (not hard)! She let out a BWAAK and jumped down. And she has not bitten my ear since. Like I said, I did not grab hard, I think it startled her more than anything. But most importantly, she hasn't bitten me again.

As long as it is not in anger or done to cause pain or harm I think a thump on the beak or a swat with a broom for an unruly rooster etc. is perfectly harmless and will bring about positive results.

 

[Lil'ChickFarm]

I raise conures. After they wean, they go through a "puppy" but snotty stage. They will make an angry sound and nip if they are not getting their way. You have to be the alpha to them and show them that you are in charge and not them. Blowing on their face and stating no firmly helps. I don't hit them, but I have let them drop to the ground which will allow them to be shocked into realizing that they are not getting what they want. It doesn't hurt them to go to the ground as they have wings.
It is important to not allow them to think that they are the alpha though, or they will continue to be a biter. After they go through this and realize that I am the alpha, they settle into sweetness usually.
My chickens are all just a few weeks old, so I haven't had any problems yet. The two oldest will nip my hands because they are looking for meal worms, but it isn't a bad bite and it is my fault that I have fed them the worms from my hand. They are respectful of me other wise and a couple days ago, one flew up and roosted in my hand.
They don't like being held yet, but I can rub their heads a little and their beaks and they seem to not mind that.

 

[sumi]

Ai ai, maybe she'll get better when she's laying? I'm glad to hear you are being patient with her. She's pretty! Love her color. Chicken psychology is tricky, but I'm sure you'll get her sorted over time.

 

[ezekielSM]

This morning she was making all sorts of complaining noises. I'm doing something different; not going to pet her with my left arm or pick her up like I usually do, but just patted her with my right hand. She kept making complaining noises and Amberbock was perching with her this time doing her protective-guardian thing. Red came up to visit on the perch while the other three girls were on the ground being semi-interested in their food. She's standing up on it now watching me and everyone else, but not getting her hissy fit/biting thing in.

I thought about the dropping thing, but was worried they'd bust a leg or wing. And ow, ear-tugs hurt

Red used to like doing that but I think she just liked my earring when she was growing up. LOL! And that's awesome that they roost in your head

When my little ones were peeps, they'd do that a lot.

But yeah, I'm hoping Stormy quits the attitude with me and realizes she's gonna be omega for a looong time if she keeps that up.

It just sucks that she had the hissy fits, though; she was great cuddling fun!

After 3 hours she still hadn't eaten or gotten water, so I got pecked at once when I picked her up after patting/cooing at her, and she's now stuffing her face. It seems like she's just picking being avoidant while the rest are doing their food/water thing. I'm trying the 'give her space on the perch' thing, but she just ... perched! XD Now she and Amberbock are eating/drinking. We'll see if Stormy tries to peck hard at me again.