Hen pecking me behind my back!

[TinaRew]

My 24 week Welbar hen seems to always try to sneak attack me from behind. If I go in their run, she will walk behind me every time and start pecking me from behind! I can’t always keep her in front of me, she literally searches out to go behind me and do this every chance she gets. What would you do? She’s always been on the flighty side so she’s not handled as often and she’s near impossible to catch.

 

[Aunt Angus]

My 24 week Welbar hen seems to always try to sneak attack me from behind. If I go in their run, she will walk behind me every time and start pecking me from behind! I can’t always keep her in front of me, she literally searches out to go behind me and do this every chance she gets. What would you do? She’s always been on the flighty side so she’s not handled as often and she’s near impossible to catch.

You sure it's a pullet? This is common behavior for aggressive cockerels.

 

[Callender Girl]

All of my full-sized Cochins (but not my Bantam ones) and my Speckled Sussex hen regularly peck at me. I have always thought it is because I am the giver of treats, and they imagine I have tiny food rewards hidden somewhere on my person.

If I kneel down to check on something on the ground, I can always expect to be nibbled at the entire time. It's also not unusual to end up with a hen that was behind me suddenly landing on my shoulder. Or my head.

Maybe your flighty girl is searching for treats, but she's too uneasy to look you in the face while she's searching? Perhaps if you just toss a little feed onto the ground, she will be distracted enough to leave you alone. I had a Welsummer who was impossible to catch, but Lottie loved her treats and never failed to devour a food reward.

Good luck with your girl!

 

[3KillerBs]

You sure it's a pullet? This is common behavior for aggressive cockerels.

That's exactly what I was thinking.

 

[Isadora]

We used to have a chicken that would always follow my husband around, pecking his legs. She was a meat bird, though, and I think she was just hungry.

 

[TinaRew]

Y

You sure it's a pullet? This is common behavior for aggressive cockerels.

Yeah she’s definitely a she

 

[TinaRew]

All of my full-sized Cochins (but not my Bantam ones) and my Speckled Sussex hen regularly peck at me. I have always thought it is because I am the giver of treats, and they imagine I have tiny food rewards hidden somewhere on my person.

If I kneel down to check on something on the ground, I can always expect to be nibbled at the entire time. It's also not unusual to end up with a hen that was behind me suddenly landing on my shoulder. Or my head.

Maybe your flighty girl is searching for treats, but she's too uneasy to look you in the face while she's searching? Perhaps if you just toss a little feed onto the ground, she will be distracted enough to leave you alone. I had a Welsummer who was impossible to catch, but Lottie loved her treats and never failed to devour a food reward.

Good luck with your girl!

This is true, it’s everytime I bend down especially! I do toss a little on the ground to distract them, but not every time.

 

[FC16]

My 24 week Welbar hen seems to always try to sneak attack me from behind. If I go in their run, she will walk behind me every time and start pecking me from behind! I can’t always keep her in front of me, she literally searches out to go behind me and do this every chance she gets. What would you do? She’s always been on the flighty side so she’s not handled as often and she’s near impossible to catch.

Do you feed them treats a lot? A while ago I was giving treats daily and if I came in without treats this one hen (who is quite a character I must say ) would peck at me, frustrated that I weren’t treating them.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Now that I think about it, I have a Brahma who pecks my legs. I always took it as her telling me to hurry up and feed her/get out of her way/open the gate. Maybe you've got an impatient girl, too? Does she hurt you, or is she just getting your attention? If she's trying to injure you, you might try separating her to bring her down off her high horse or pecking her back. Lol

 

[FC16]

Now that I think about it, I have a Brahma who pecks my legs. I always took it as her telling me to hurry up and feed her/get out of her way/open the gate. Maybe you've got an impatient girl, too? Does she hurt you, or is she just getting your attention? If she's trying to injure you, you might try separating her to bring her down off her high horse or pecking her back. Lol

they do make me laugh. But yeah I agree if the hen was full-on attacking then I’d separate