What the Chicken?!?!?!?!

[Marinefam2053]

So.... my one and only Rhode Island Red, has recently gotten very PECKY with me, and I’m not sure why or what to do about it. A couple of mornings ago, she bruised my arm while I was trying to prop open the run door by pecking me twice. This morning it was like a sneak attack on the back of my leg when I was inspecting the run. This time, there a little more damage, but I’ll survive. So, now I feel like I’m going to have to carry her around when I’m doing anything inside with them. What’s funny is that one of the more dominant bird did give her a little warning peck when she got too close after I set her back down.

 

[featherhead007]

It's chicken stuff! They love, fear, challenge, and compete, just like we do. Just show love and hang on to your bird. she'll get the idea Especially a Rhode Island Red

 

[featherhead007]

My Beetov-Hen does the same thing!

 

[DobieLover]

So.... my one and only Rhode Island Red, has recently gotten very PECKY with me, and I’m not sure why or what to do about it. A couple of mornings ago, she bruised my arm while I was trying to prop open the run door by pecking me twice. This morning it was like a sneak attack on the back of my leg when I was inspecting the run. This time, there a little more damage, but I’ll survive. So, now I feel like I’m going to have to carry her around when I’m doing anything inside with them. What’s funny is that one of the more dominant bird did give her a little warning peck when she got too close after I set her back down.

Are you sure she's a she? Feel free to post a picture of the little pecker.
If I get a sassy hen that pecks me, I "peck" her right back with a finger or two to the back of her head in quick jabs hard enough to send the right message but not hard enough to hurt her until she backs off. They rarely go for a repeat round.

 

[featherhead007]

Are you sure she's a she? Feel free to post a picture of the little pecker.
If I get a sassy hen that pecks me, I "peck" her right back with a finger or two to the back of her head in quick jabs hard enough to send the right message but not hard enough to hurt her until she backs off. They rarely go for a repeat round.

good point!

 

[Birdsong 82]

I had a chicken who was otherwise very friendly but you turned your back your legs were getting packed for sure. I did the packing her back with my fingers and I still do. It's almost like She forgets by the end of the day. At this point I just learned to wear pants only

 

[SueT]

The only hen I've had that pecked me was a Rhode Island Red. She would draw blood. She also became a vicious bully to the other chickens. A lot of people have reported aggressiveness with this breed, I wish I had known this before I got chickens. I will never get another RIR.

 

[Ridgerunner]

It sounds like it could be a male. How old is it? If you are not sure it is female some photos of the head showing the comb and wattles and another shot showing the legs and general body shape and posture could help us determine sex. A female, pullet of hen, can be aggressive toward people but usually it is a male.

This sounds like it's when she is just walking around, not just when she is on the nest, so it does not sound like she is a broody protecting her nest or baby chicks.

If it is a female (or male) being this aggressive toward you I'd get rid of her (him). There are too many good hens out there to put up with one like this. Plus think of the danger she poses to other family members, especially children. You might be able to teach it to leave you alone but that still leaves other people in danger.

 

[hispoptart]

I had a rhode Island red that became very aggressive a few weeks before she started to lay. I would pin her to the ground, hold her there and rub her back some what aggressively. Not hard enough to harm her, but hard enough to let her know I was boss. It helped a bit but she really didn't stop until she started to lay.

 

[Marinefam2053]

Are you sure she's a she? Feel free to post a picture of the little pecker.
If I get a sassy hen that pecks me, I "peck" her right back with a finger or two to the back of her head in quick jabs hard enough to send the right message but not hard enough to hurt her until she backs off. They rarely go for a repeat round.

She’s definitely a she as she’s currently announcing to all that she’s just put an egg in the nest box. My other girls go after my hair when it’s down, thinking that it might be something good.