What’s wrong with my chicken?

[Whateverlouie]

I have a hen who’s been acting weird. I hatched her about 6 months ago. I handled her a lot and she was a super sweet bird until about a month ago. She does the usual when I come around she comes up to me and if I sit down she will jump up on my lap. This is when I used to be able to pet her and just spend time with her. Now when I kneel down or allow her to jump on my lap she bites the sh.. out of me. Her body language is still the same she just always bites me now. If I allow her she won’t stop, just bites me over and over. She doesn’t act “aggressive” when she does it but she has drawn blood a few times. What’s up with this girl?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

My guess is she's sexually maturing, and becoming more dominant. You are probably beneath her in the pecking in her head, so she's dominating you.

 

[Whateverlouie]

My guess is she's sexually maturing, and becoming more dominant. You are probably beneath her in the pecking in her head, so she's dominating you.

Lol. Even my roosters don’t see me below them. That is really funny.

 

[aart]

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.

 

[Whateverlouie]

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.

Thank you!