What the heck??!!

[Keltara]

Quote:
Cynthia
I will definitly stop with the poking back at her. I will try the hand on the back and pushing her to the ground. You are the second one who has suggested that. I'm just afraid that she will bite me in the process. I'll put a thick jacket on and some gloves so she can't draw blood. Any idea how long it might take for her to respond to this kind of treatment?

 

[scratch'n'peck]

She may get really annoyed if she sees the other hens get treats while they are being withheld from her. I wouldn't be surprised if she would then peck the other hens out of frustration.

I did train one of my naughty roosters to accept pets without biting. He could see that I had a treat and I would say "pet" in a soothing voice, then I would reach to pet him. If he tried to bite, I would turn away and not give him the treat. If he accepted even a little pet,( or even a motion towards him suggesting a pet at first without biting ) I would give him a small treat. It took repeating to train him.

Another option is to just not pet her for a few weeks, and just pet the other hens who don't seem to mind it. After about three weeks you could try petting her again to see if it was just a phase.

 

[scratch'n'peck]

Who knows it may only take a couple times making her squat before she gets the idea (but she might needs some extra reminding). Put your gloves and long sleeves on for extra confidence. The good thing is it is hard for the chicken to really reach round back to bite you, but you have to get comfortable doing it at first.

 

[bald k9]

Are you looking at her in her eyes???? I read somewhere that you should not look them in the eye[predator type thing, also i read that they will try to peck at your eyes if you get to close when your getting eggs from the nest! Just another thought!!

 

[Tambo26]

One of my three 18 week old, sweet, Buff Orpington hens Pip all of a sudden started biting me a couple of weeks ago! So sweet to a total you know what in one day! She actually drew a little blood a couple of times! So I got on BYC for answers. I tried picking her up and cradling her on her back when she would bite me and she would stop for a little bit.... then I tried "pecking" her in the chest... which just seemed to tick her off and she would retaliate!!

Then I tried "pecking" her on the back of the head/neck and that worked pretty well to get her to stop. Today... someone flipped her bi#$% switch back off... she's as sweet as she used to be... no biting, all loving again. I think it's hormones!!

 

[sourland]

She regards you as an equal because you have/are treating her as an equal. The next time she becomes aggressive place one hand on her back and one hand on her neck. Push her to the ground and hold her there until she stops struggling. Wait 30 seconds and then release her. If her aggression continues subdue her for increasing periods of time. The most socialized chickens are generally the ones that have the least 'respect' for humans. Such behavior is far more common on the part of roosters.

 

[BigDaddy'sGurl]

Honestly, the only mean hen I had that would bite me wound up in the pot. I know your birds are pets, and I'm not saying my method was correct, but this chicken finally got me so mad it was her or me and I just couldn't take it anymore. I hated to do it, after the fact, but was so glad the aggressive girl was gone!

Sorry for your trouble...

 

[JakRat]

Quote:
Cynthia
I will definitly stop with the poking back at her. I will try the hand on the back and pushing her to the ground. You are the second one who has suggested that. I'm just afraid that she will bite me in the process. I'll put a thick jacket on and some gloves so she can't draw blood. Any idea how long it might take for her to respond to this kind of treatment?

x2. I had to hold one of mine down for about 15 min... she finally got the picture that I AM MAMA HEN. Almost threw her in the pot too. I have some sassy pullets right now and what I do is flip them on their backs and hold them like on my shoulder with their feet in the air... they calm down... same as putting them on their back on my lap... wear pants and a long sleeve shirt when you do this though

 

[ThinkingChickens]

My girls got super mean right before they started laying. Now they are nice again and have stayed nice for the months since they started laying. One of my newer girls has been much meaner and I'm pretty sure she laid her first egg today. So, just give it time. I don't really think kicking the chicken will solve anything though, just as I wouldn't kick a dog. I'd walk away, it's a chicken.

 

[Chinchilla2]

When you do the back squashing to the ground thing, do it fast. You can't just put your hand back there and start pushing, you have to land quick and have her down just as fast. Fluffy, one of BOs, has started developing attitude and that shuts it down quick. Don't wait for her to come at you either. When you are outside and she walks by, lean over and flatten her. One of those "out of the blue" things. She'll quickly learn that even if she wants to move up the pecking order, her climb stops with her feathered companions and does not include the food and treat monster.