Biting hen

[AggieKat]

Hey all,

I have a problem hen and I don’t know what else to do about her except get rid of her at this point. She is a year old Crested Cream Legbar which generally are supposed to be friendly. She was friendly as a chick and teen and let me hold her and was my favorite. Fast forward to when all my four hens started laying and she was at the bottom of the pecking order. She started charging me like a rooster, fluffing up and doing the karate kicks and trying to peck and bite me.
Ive tried carrying her around when I’m out there, holding her down in submission, and trying to hold my ground or carrying a stick. Nothing has worked. She bites the hell out of my feet and ankles and my hands if I reach down to do feed or get another bird to do a health check.

Any advice? I’m tired of getting scarred and bruised by this rude ass hen.

 

[NatJ]

Any advice? I’m tired of getting scarred and bruised by this rude ass hen.

Rubber boots and leather gloves?

Or make chicken soup?

 

[AggieKat]

Rubber boots and leather gloves?

Or make chicken soup?

That’s about to be it. She lays pretty blue eggs but she’s mean as hell and follows me around to attack.

 

[Mrs. K]

I have chickens because I enjoy chickens. I would not enjoy that. In my experience, this just ruins it. Cull her, if you can't eat her, bury her and plant a rosebush.

Or give her to someone else to do with as they need to.

Just because you had a bird that was working out, when they no longer work out, you need to adjust the flock.

Mrs K

 

[Muser]

I have a Salmon Faverolles who attacks my wellies if I walk fast around the garden. But the moment I turn around, she squats so is submissive. She's the bottom of the pecking order, I think it's misplaced agression as she's got no one else to take it out on without being attacked. I had to start shoving her off and she is now relaxing and doesn't do it as much now. I think some girls just don't know how to handle being at the bottom. My head hen pecks her face when she looks like she's eyeing up my welly. She's never charged at me, pecked hard or kicked me though thankfully. I would probably soup pot if she became as aggressive as your hen... just like the Rooster did when he decided to start a fight he wasn't going to win.

 

[HowIsItDone]

Rubber boots and leather gloves?

Mine will be 8 weeks old tomorrow, and I'm new at this.

Is it normal for chickens to peck at your boots when you are in their coop or run?

There is a small hole at the knee of my "chicken jeans", and they try to peck at that now.
I'm going to need new-"old jeans", I guess, but is it normal?

 

[FrostRanger]

Mine will be 8 weeks old tomorrow, and I'm new at this.

Is it normal for chickens to peck at your boots when you are in their coop or run?

There is a small hole at the knee of my "chicken jeans", and they try to peck at that now.
I'm going to need new-"old jeans", I guess, but is it normal?

In your case it just sounds like curious pecks rather than aggression. Birds will peck at anything that's interesting and might possibly be food. If they're pecking too much or too hard, peck them gently but firmly with your fingers

 

[FrostRanger]

In the case of the aggressive cream legbar, you tried what I would have, since that hasn't worked, soup her. There are many many many nice hens out there and most cream legbars are far nicer than her. Soup her and get some chicks if you want more cream legbars

 

[Muser]

In the case of the aggressive cream legbar, you tried what I would have, since that hasn't worked, soup her. There are many many many nice hens out there and most cream legbars are far nicer than her. Soup her and get some chicks if you want more cream legbars

I agree with this. I have two cream legbars. One is a little skittish but still likes to sit on my shoulder and the other is the most cuddly puddle chicken who would sleep on my lap all day if she could! Don't put up with it if it's causing you to have cuts and bruises! Gotta look after yourself! Like I said, in my case, my Faverolles tried it with me but it's very easy to get her to back down and I don't feel afraid that I'm always watching my ankles. If she didn't back down, she'd become soup too!

 

[Muser]

Mine will be 8 weeks old tomorrow, and I'm new at this.

Is it normal for chickens to peck at your boots when you are in their coop or run?

There is a small hole at the knee of my "chicken jeans", and they try to peck at that now.
I'm going to need new-"old jeans", I guess, but is it normal?

Chicks are inquisitive and they peck anything that looks different. I have a lip piercing... I have to be careful with all my birds with that My chickens love pecking at my clothes, sometimes they can pull quite hard, but they just want snacks from me and there is no aggression in it whatsoever Take it as a compliment they feel comfortable to get close to be inquisitive with you <3