Vicious Chicken

[tracey.hanson]

I am new to keeping chickens and I have two 23 week old silver link hens which I was told are a hybrid breed, bred for friendliness and egg laying (still no eggs though).

I have had them for just over a week now. The natural pecking order has now been established which I did not interfere with. For the last couple of days the hen in charge has started to act viciously towards us when we're in their coop cleaning up or feeding/watering them. She pecks us and follows us around and even trys to jump us and attack us!

I am worried that I've done/doing something wrong.

Any advice would be really appreciated.

 

[Chickenmaven]

Either you take charge or she stays in charge. What that means is that you need to show her who's boss.

And it is easy!

All you have to do is pick her up & carry her around, so that she comes to understand that you are big & strong & she is NOT.

Good luck!

 

[ChooksChick]

Goodness! That almost sounds like roo behavior!

I'm not certain there's anything you could have done to cause that behavior. I've not had a mean or aggressive hen, but I'm guessing they may just happen...I can see each of mine has had a distinct personality that could only be changed so much by us- do you know how they were kept prior to your ownership of them?

I'd love to see a pic- I'm not familiar with that hybrid.

 

[tracey.hanson]

OK, great, thank you both for your advice.

I will be carrying her around as much as possible! Although the thought of that scares me a little as I picked her up earlier and she grabbed my shirt collar!

Prior to buying them all i know is that they were the last two in the coop in the place where i got them from - i could ask, any tips on good questions to ask?

I'II try and post some pictures when I find out how!

 

[b.hromada]

I agree with chookschick, are you sure it isn't a roo? Sounds more like roo behavior to me, but could be wrong. Good luck "taming" her though. Oh,

from S. Florida, by the way!

 

[007Dawn]

I agree with your first poster. We have a chicken that attacks everyone and everything except me.

I pick her up daily and give her a stroke on the head. Now she will actaully come to me. Every now and then she gets an attitude and I pick her up and put her back in the coupe, that ends it everytime.

So will our rooster he likes so sit on my feet. Don't know why but he will allow me to pick him up as well and will follow me around the yard.

Just show her who is boss.

 

[Chicky Tocks]

hee! The lead hen will often times take on a roo'ish behaviour. Pictures would definately help, but a chicken doesn't have to be roo to be a butthead.

 

[tracey.hanson]

I am told its definitely not a cockerel but have hopefully attached the link to a picture showing the troublesome lady.

 

[007Dawn]

She looks exactly like mine that attacks! I was told she is just a game hen.

 

[Kung Foo Chicken]

I have a hen that would nip the back of my legs and act vicious. I would strategically tap her head with my fingertip whenever she got close. She figured it out.