I just went outside and let my two 6 month old hens out this morning(they are both laying). When I came out to check on them they came running up to me as usual but then my leghorn bit my arm! I pushed her to show her I was in charge then she came back full throttle and flew up at my face! I flung my arms around to keep her from my face and hit her to the ground she got right up and stared at me with her chest out big. I ran inside then right away she flew up to the grill and started making crazy loud noises! It almost sounds like three unhappy clucks then a crow?! It's so loud I had no idea she could make this noise! I have no idea what brought this up? Out of my two hens she is always the nicest. Why did she do this and what can I do to stop it?
Sounds like she is trying to dominate you, this usually happens when hens are handled a lot or fed out of hand, she's in that moody faze and she wants to be boss and she considers you a part of the flock, you have to ignore her and probably use something to block her from coming right up to you, I suggest a broom or a plastic rake, you may even have to chase her away, she's acting the same way a rooster would, I might even corner her and pin her down for a bit. Stop feeding from your hands and don't pet her, I would still pick her up if you do, I just would make it more restraining and unpleasant, Hopefully a few times of standing up to her will straighten her out.
When there is no rooster around a hen may take on the role of 'protecting' the flock. I would grab her and hold her down on her belly with your hand on her back, grab her neck feathers with your other hand and give a little pull and shake. That is how the rooster would 'force' her to submit to his superiority. Had a pullet in the growout coop start that business with me this summer, I held her down as described above, she submitted and never came at me again.
