Why did my hen attack me?!

[KDH]

Quote:
Drat. Can't open the last pic for some reason (wanted to look at his tail). I'm educating myself - comb, etc., seems really red. Are hens' that red?

 

[jjthink]

Honestly, I have seen young birds like yours behave this way only to become docile, friendly beings later when they get past their version of terrible two's. Specifically, there was a time when I was visiting someone with 20+ young birds and many of them acted like evil you know whats, biting me HARD. Man it hurt like the word much more appropriate than heck. I wouldn't hurt a fly but the pain of it made me want to retaliate (I didn't, of course!). Then within a few months time or so they were all friendly - no more biting. It's like it was a phase or something. These were not birds that were handled much at all, but they nevertheless simmered down. Some people (not you) are awfully quick to sentence a bird for what might be temporary behavior.

You may benefit from doing as was suggested above - gently holding her/him for periods of time so she knows you have the power but that you are also a benevolent dictator.

JJ

p.s. Holding them upside down, as some on BYC from time to time suggest, can be very dangerous for them - I don't recommend this. Not necessary.

 

[MiniBeesKnees]

Looks like a hen to me.
I have good luck showing mine who is boss carrying them around for a minute or two upside down holding them by their ankles.
I have gotten REALLY good at snagging one by a foot, and putting them in 'the position'.
Terry in TN

 

[PunkinPeep]

To me, the up-side-down hold is my last resort before holding them upside down to put them in a killing cone. But that might be why. I associate it with the killing cone. I have never had to use it otherwise either.

I'm curious, because i don't know, what the dangerous effects could be.

 

[purr]

i have read here where they have difficulty breathing in the upside down position.

 

[MiniBeesKnees]

Don't we all.
Terry in TN

 

[Keg]

Quote:
Drat. Can't open the last pic for some reason (wanted to look at his tail). I'm educating myself - comb, etc., seems really red. Are hens' that red?

The code for the last image had a mistake in the middle (looks like a smiley was accidentally put in it). Try this one:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/47725_100_0755.jpg

 

[RockinRainbow]

Here are 2 more pictures of Felicity.

I threatened to make soup out of her, but my daughters all put up a huge fuss.
My oldest went down to see her after school and she carried her around... she was fine!

But I'm still sporting 6" scratches down the side of my face!

 

[polarmamaz6]

We have owned chickens for a long time, so there are several points i would like to address. Firstly, when there is no rooster around there is always a female who will pick up the dominancy and ¨think¨she is a male. Also I do not recommend that you use any aggression whatsoever towards them, the end result is worse. They view it as aggression and will continue to attack and possibly get worse. I have personally seen some people who have gotten a mean rooster or hen to stop pecking and attacking for awhile but they have always gotten right back into the behavior. In considering everything, your safety, your childrens safety my best advice is the soup because one day you or your children may lose an eye due to aggresive behavior.

 

[Cole405]

are you nice to her? Do you carry her? I have a friend you doesn't pick his chickens up enough. So they aren't that friendly. They keep attacking you even if you don't go near them. If you do carry her and you are nice to her, It might be her personality. And it might also think she's boss.