heth1986 Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 One of my hens has turned a bit One of my 3 legbar girls is being REALLY mean to me! It was my fault to begin with because I was stupid enough to go into the run with bright red toenails and wearing flip flops but now one of them just wont stop attacking me! She squares up to me as I approach the fence, pounces on my feet pecking at me and grabbing the skin and if my hands are anywhere near the floor then she see's them as fair game as well! She drew blood yesterday!!! It's like Birds gone wrong! I've had all 3 of them since they were day old chicks and up until the weekend they had all been little angels. To be fair, the other 2 still are. They are now about 18 weeks old. Has anyone else had this happen virtually overnight and is there anything I can do? They have heaps of room between them, plenty of things to jump on and off in the run etc etc. It may be worth noting that one of them has just started to lay but not the mean one and, other than that, nothing has changed I've started today putting my hand on her back when she attacks me, this does make he crouch and seems to stop her... for about 5 seconds Will this help or am I making things worse??? Help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gongladosh Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 I'd be tempted to: 1 - not have exposed flesh if she now likes to peck 2 - don't wear anything red 3 - when she does peck, pick her up hold her a safe distance from your face and give her a damn good scowl (and hold that expression until she looks away) The other option is that once she's pecked, put her back in the run and let the others stay out in the garden for a while - she'll get the hint pretty soon. (this assumes you let them out of the run periodically). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suebee Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 I agree. Behaving like a cockerel, or like the top hen (that you are!) should do the trick. She may be challenging the pecking order, if one of the others has come into lay... She won't want to be at the bottom, and is including you in the equation. Like gongladosh says, pick her up and outstare her (with wide eyes), or like you have done, get her to crouch by pressing her down like a cockerel would......... Little madam .... and don't let her get the upper hand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Looney Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 One of my hens attacks my son (he's 5). She is fine with everyone else but I think she sees him as weaker and fair game to be lower on the pecking order than she is. I tried to get him to make her crouch for him but she was having none of it. She really goes for him! I have now bought him a water pistol and he is under strict instruction to squirt her ONLY if she pecks him...so far so good.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heth1986 Posted May 8, 2013 Author Share Posted May 8, 2013 Thanks everyone, I tried a bit of staring at her this morning and couldn't help but giggle at the situation My neighbours spotted me arguing with her and must have wet themselves laughing... how embarassing! Anyway, this morning I held her down for longer than I had been before and she actually stayed crouched for a while after I let her go again so I think she's finally got the hint. She isn't crouching like the other 2 are so hopefully when she comes into lay she'll chill out a bit! I've also just popped up to the run to give them the veg peelings and, although it may be because I had food, she didn't attack me this time Cheeky little devil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heth1986 Posted May 8, 2013 Author Share Posted May 8, 2013 PS I've also just realised that a) my flip flops are red b) my clogs that i usually wear up the garden are pink!!! Trip to the clog shop I think!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merlina Posted May 8, 2013 Share Posted May 8, 2013 PS I've also just realised that a) my flip flops are red b) my clogs that i usually wear up the garden are pink!!! Trip to the clog shop I think!!! hehe I think you just found your answer I thought my hens were very 'pecky' - they stopped as soon as I stopped painting my toenails red and wearing cargo trousers which had dangly ties. They will also peck pink, purple, silver and blue toenails, but not as avidly as red. Toes 'au natural' have precisely zero appeal - apparently Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
