Mean Wyandotte Hens

[rbrink21]

We have 11 hens, 3 of which are Silver Laced Wyandottes. We got Wyandottes because they are touted as being friendly and docile. Mine are neither. They are quite aggressive, esp. with the other birds and sometimes even with us. All of our other birds are now missing all of the feathers on their heads because of the Wyandottes. They are about a 2 years old now and I'm just about had it with them.

I talked to someone else with Wyandottes (Gold Laced) and they said they had the same problem with theirs. Anyone else have issues with this supposedly friendly and docile breed?

 

[cterbizan]

I have a SLW I am going to guess about a year old. She is a outcast with our flock. Even though she is not the head chicken she is very mean to the other chickens. She is the only one who finds her way out of the coop and run and lays her eggs away from the nesting boxes. She has not yet been aggressive with my family she just stays away from us. I do have GLW and SLW eggs in the incubator at a friends house and I am not sure whether I am going to be keeping them all. Yet I may try to raise them and show them extra attention daily to see if it will change or if that is just their personality.

 

[Attack Chicken]

I have bantam wyandottes and I only have 1 that will run away from us. She was a rescue so I don't blame her. But once I catch her she's a real sweetie. Mine show no aggression towards me, even Bubba the roo.

 

[cracked_egg]

I have a SLW sitting on my lap as I write this. Lol. ... Now, she's not very old, so I don't know if it makes a difference, but all my SLW were way friendlier than the BOs and she is the only one who lived through the dog ....

 

[NWChicks]

I have three Wyandottes (1 Silver, 1 Gold and 1 Splash; Splash is a rooster) They are pretty sweet birds overall but do have the usual chicken tendencies of determining pecking order. My rooster is pretty sweet so far but he's only about 20 weeks old. The gold and silver we got when they were 1 day old and we've held and played with them from day one. The silver did have a period of time where she decided she didn't like me or something and would try to attack me whenever I went near. I picked her up and held her like a football for quite awhile. Just carried her around while I did my chores and such and when I put her back she's been super sweet ever since.

 

[rbrink21]

The differences are interesting. Everyone warned us not to get RIRs as they are supposed to be aggressive. Ours are the friendliest of the bunch, readily coming up to us and allowing us to hold them and they aren't aggressive with the other birds at all.

 

[Mrs. K]

I think that generallites about breeds are just that. And sometimes you get one you just don't like. That is one of the reasons that when people are starting with chickens I don't think they should get all one breed. But if they are not working with the flock or family, maybe freezer camp, and get some other chickens that are a better fit. mrsK

 

[buckeyefever]

I have one GLW (Frick). Her and my B.O. (Frack) are 2 wks younger than my Comets. Frick & Frack are inseparable and have each other's back. Frick is starting to rule the roost, though. Upon their introduction to the Comets, they all got along fine but now Frick seems to be letting the others know - in a not so very nice way - that she is a force to be reckoned with and if you're going to do something it had better be OK with her before you do it. She has shown a bit of aggression towards me but nothing major for now. If she is out of the coop, she will charge at me, but stop 2 feet short of me, when I first enter the run. So far she has not done anything down right mean and I really hope she is just showing that she has top spot in the flock.

 

[Hockeychick]

I have 5 SLW's that are 16 weeks old. I find that they are very agressive to the birds who lowest in the pecking order (the poor Easter Eggers). When they were smaller they were always trying to escape the brooder, but I found their antics amusing. My favorite bird was a SLW - she would always fly up to my shoulder, but she has become quite standoff-ish with me in the last 3 weeks. They definitely seem to stay as a group and not mix with the other breeds. I have found that the BO's, BR's, and Red Stars are much friendlier. I am still hoping that my favorite SLW comes around and gets friendlier with me.

 

[Keri78]

I'm sooo sorry to hear this! I know how much time & thought I put into deciding which breeds are going to be the best match for our family. I'm sure there are some nice wyandottes out there...but honestly...life's too short to be dealing with mean chickens of any breed! I've had my fair share! I would list them on your local CL and I'm sure someone would be tickled pink to have some good egg layers. You will then be free to find some nice sweet chickens! I have 4 little boys so "Sweet & Friendly" is always at the top of my priority list! So far...my giant cochins, orpingtons, and speckled sussex have been great with the boys. My Easter Eggers & Olive Eggers are skittish. Top on the list are the Buff Orpingtons(they come in lots of colors not just buff)...they are HUGE but they let my boys tote them around the backyard like Big Old Pet Cats!!!

Next in line would be the giant cochins...they tolerate the same kind of affection!

And of course we have silkies and sizzles and seramas that are EXCELLENT for the boys to snuggle! But their not much in the egg department!