My hen attacks me...

[Alley]

One of my four girls has started to attack me. She attacks my legs by clawing me and pecks at me each time I'm in the yard or near the coop. Is this normal? Why is she doing this? Anyone know?

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

She is telling you "make chicken & dumplings out of me!"

 

[BarkerChickens]

She may be telling you that SHE is the boss. Pick her up and carry her around and teach her that you are boss (bosys chickens don't like to be held and carried...they aren't in control). If she throws a fit when you try to put her down, pick her back up and hold her tightly until she relaxes. After a few days of this, she'll probably realize you are the boss of her!

I have one that used to be bossy and would peck hard. I'd hold her and grab her beak if she pecked. She opted to relax instead.

Oh...and make sure it is aggression. Some will peck at your feet and hands to get your attention. My Delawares are notorious for lecking like crazy to get my attention. They prefer being talked to and jumping on my shoulder...none of this walking past them business.

 

[chookchick]

How old are they, and are you sure she is not a roo? Do you have a roo?

 

[Alley]

Two of my girls are a year and a half and my other two are 5 months old. The attacker is one of the 5 month olds. She has been held since the day I brought them home. Each time she attacks me, I pick her but she just sits there. I let the girls out in the yard today and as I turn my back she jumps up and claws my legs and pecks! I think she's gone mad!

I couldn't make chicken and dumplings out of her, I can't eat what I feed! LOL

 

[kipper]

What I wear around the chickens makes them react differently. Jeans and leather boots or shoes, no problem. Crocs, yellow rain boots, flowered PJ pants, and other loose fitting pants seem to drive our roo crazy. Even the 6 month old pullets peck at me, mostly out of curiosity.

I agree with the post about carrying the pullet around. If they struggle, hold them longer. I also wonder if you have a roo? What breed is the crabby girl?

 

[TheMatador]

Quote:
I wouldn't be surprised if she turned out to be a he. In my limited experience they are pretty hard to tell apart at that age.

Then again, you could just have a crazy hen. I have a Campine that I'm pretty sure is plotting my death. She's like the Stewie Griffin of chickens.

 

[jjparke]

Maybe you have bugs.

 

[backforty]

You're not alone. I also have a 7 month old red star hen thaT always attacks when I go in the coop. I thought I'd have to maybe worry about the rooster but he's great. I'll have to try the holding technique to.

 

[Stephanie-n-Hayden]

I have had this problem with my one and only standard hen. She does the same thing. I was scared to pick her up for fear that I would come away with a missing finger or something. But, Christmas morning my dad and I went out and worked together to grab her and scoop her up to clean her rear (poop stuck to it). This was the first time I had ever held her, and she didn't even attempt to bite me. And for several days after she did not try anything mean with me and even allowed me to touch her back. I think I will continue to do this periodically and maybe things won't be as "iffy" btw us. All this is good advise as long as you are not a scaridy-cat like myself.