Hen keeps attacking Us

[Anonymous]

Hope someone can help us.

Earlier this year we incubated 6 eggs, with only one hatching - a white cochin - now named Chalky. (She hatched in May so is now just over three months old) Chalky has always seemed fairly friendly and about 3 weeks ago started to eat from our hands. Now she has turned nasty; if you walk up the garden she runs after you and will peck your leg; if you are cleaning them out, she will come over and grab anything she can; if you give our other hen some food from your hand, Chalky will run over - neck stretched, neck feathers all ruffled and literaly fly and you and grab your skin. I just knock her off (not sure if this is right?) but I have young children and am worried that she is going to really hurt one of them. Chalky was the first chick we raised ourselves so we have become quite attached to her so this behaviour is quite upsetting.

What do I do? Is this a phase? Do we just ignore her and hope she "gets over it" or do I have to "dispatch" her?

Hope you can give me some positive news .....

Many thanks,

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Brahma,

I'm very new to keeping chickens,I have been doing a lot of research into keeping them though,and, wondered,is Chalky definitely a hen and not a cockerel? I'm probably showing my in-experience here,but, Cochins where a breed I was very interested in keeping because of their domesticity/placidness maybe being a 'boy' could account for this behaviour.
Assuming she is a hen,how does she get on with the other hens,is she accepted by the rest of the flock and not either 'bullied' or being a 'bully' to the others?
Also,I would suggest with this un-acceptable behaviour, when you go out and she runs to peck your legs, you face her squarely,face on and say no to her firmly.Make direct eye contact with her and basically stare her out.
I do hope that someone with more experience reads your post and has other suggestions that do work,I know 2 methods that work really well to stop either snakes or domestic rabbits biting,but not sure with chickens.I know how disapointing and upsetting this would be for me,and do feel for you and your family,good luck.

 

[Tim]

Hi Brahma,

I would say it's bad news really....

It sounds like she's behaving like a cockerel - an aggressive cockerel too. Sometimes hens do start to crow believe it or not and can exhibit male behaviour. There are various theories people have as to why they do this.

I have never had any success with stopping aggression in chickens. I have had different strains of the same breed and one is calm and docile, the other aggressive. Generally speaking you get the same as the parent birds and it's usually the male who is aggressive.

With young children, I wouldn't take any chances - be very careful. One kick could cause all sorts of damage.

What I would do (since you are very attached to her) If you can definately keep her away from the children, ensure there is lots of food available ad-lib and let her mature a little more. She's the equivalent of a teenager at the moment and still developping. Ideally, if you had a good cockerel, he would soon put her in her place and tell her how to behave but hopefully by the time she reaches 20 or so weeks old she will calm down a bit.

Maybe snifter or someone else has some better ideas - it's not something I have experienced before to be honest.

Tim

 

[Anonymous]

Did anyone see the article in the paper about a hen that actually sex changed?

 

[snifter]

Can't add much really. Sounds like you have a cockerel there and a probable aggressive one at that.

I've never kept a nasty cock bird, they all go in the pot.

Try the suggestions made but if they don't work I'd cull as rehoming an aggressive cock bird doesn't do anyone any favours. If its an aggressive hen, I'd find her a new home, not cull her. She'll probably be fine with other hens and a cock bird to keep her in check.

 

[Anonymous]

Sorry can't help you with your problem, never come across an aggressive hen before.

But I wonder if it has anything to do with being an only chick. I once had a singleton from a bator hatch who was raised on his own, he behaved like a spoilt brat right up to the day I decided enough was enough and he was sent on his way.