Vigilante Chicken?

[Raderby Ranchin]

My Buff Orpington is the only mean hen out of six. Today as I was checking progress of my plants when my chickens came up to me. Everything was fine except Chicka my Buff Orpington attacked me. I shooed her away she came back at me. I grabbed her to lock her up and out of nowhere my Ameraucana, Feather started pecking and clawing at her. Again all my birds are super nice, super sweet EXCEPT Chicka. I locked Chicka up for 5 minutes to see if she calmed down. Nope! As soon as I let her out see started to charge me. But out of nowhere like batman, Feather swooped down on her and started beating her right before she got to me.

My questions are:

Is my Ameraucana protecting me?

Is Feather at the top of pecking order or is she just the muscle?

Why is Chicka so mean (from a breed that's suppose to be docile)?

Why did I let my 4yr son pick another Buff Orpington last week? (lol)

 

[Wisher1000]

My guess is that Chicka is the alpha and Feather wants to be. I would guess she sees you as being her leverage to dominate Chicka. I have roosters that take cheap shots at birds I'm carrying all the time. You will need to keep Chicka in check or to segregate her until Feather or another hen establishes herself as alpha. When you bring Chicka back to the flock, she may accept that she has been replaced, or she may challenge the current alpha. If she were mine, I would get rid of her. I don't tolerate any bird that hits me.

 

[azygous]

What exactly do you mean by "attacking"? Some people think mere pecking on the back of their leg constitutes "attacking". Or is she attempting to flog you with her neck feathers flared and claws out?

If it's the latter, you do have a problem. Hens don't normally act in this manner, and she may be thinking she needs to protect the flock from you because you're behaving in a manner that threatens her.

In that case, you need to discipline her much the same as you would a problem rooster, with restraint and firmness until she gets the idea her behavior is not acceptable.

As for the other hen's sneak attacks on the one attacking you, wisher nailed it.

 

[Raderby Ranchin]

Feather pecked and clawed at her eyes, head and neck. Chicka is just mean. Now the others are pecking at her. I thought my Australorp was at the top... But I don't really see a top. They are all ok with each other except Chicka who is mean and Legs (Light Brahma) who keeps to herself.

 

[Raderby Ranchin]

It's like daytime tv soaps.lol

 

[Raderby Ranchin]

Wisher1000, I just got Rhode Island Red chicks along with a few others. I've read they are aggressive. I picked them for eggs of course but also in hopes that the new group have just enough grit to intergrate with my establish flock.