Roobaloo Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 Why would a hen suddenly become aggressive/stroppy towards people? Toph has always been the quieter, calmer of the two...Suki is top hen (always first out the eglu, always first out the run and can steal any treats without repercussion!) but in the last 48hrs, she's been getting very stroppy. Whenever we appear in the garden, she fluffs up her feathers and shouts/grumbles. She's now getting very unhappy about being picked up, whereas previously she just accepted it as part of life and would squat as soon as we approached...she now tried to escape (we never chase her, just approach again) and when we do herd her up, she shouts and tries to scratch. We've not changed how we handle or manage her, her feed hasn't changed, she's eating and drinking well...and laying as normal! She's nearly due to be wormed...could that be relevant? Also, she does seem to be dusting herself a lot (they have a sand bath and a dirt/compost pit in their WIR but she always uses the old flower bed...) and she does tend to just sit there. The only thing that has happened is that a neighbours child knocked a ball over the fence a few nights ago and it landed in their free ranging area but didn't hit them (it was one of those very light children/toddler balls) Would that have upset her enough? Could it just be the heat? As long as she's healthy, her behaviour is not a problem...but I know that in other species it can be a sign of something else... Thanks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 My girls are like this now. But it is just the heat for mine our body heat just makes them hotter. Mine just sit in their dust bath as well but they are all fluffed out so it is cool for them. Sometimes a chicken just gets spooked by something and thinks we did it on purpose or were the enemy. It is a thing that you will have to try to build trust up again I had to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roobaloo Posted June 24, 2010 Author Share Posted June 24, 2010 Thanks for the reply...frustrating but at least it sounds like she's ok!! I just went out to get a video of her being stroppy...and she was her normal self! Though, it's much cooler now and I gave her corn after the 'photoshoot'! The bit at the end was definitely her innocently saying "was I supposed to do something??" I'll give her some space and keep things cool and calm and hopefully she'll cheer up!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennydavies Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 Love the expression on her face at the end Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
