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[Guest]

Hello to you all I am the guardian of two chickens delivered 6 weeks ago named Nutmeg and Ginger. Nutmeg had been laying now for 4 days but nothing from Ginger who appears to be a really disturbed chicken.

She is so aggressive and constantly paces up and down the run if not allowed out in our large garden the moment the eglu is opened in the morning, Nutmeg is twice the size, gentle, placid and a joy to behold and I am worried if Ginger will ever lay as her energy is put into nervous behaviour but not of the frightened sort quite the reverse.

When I open the egg hatch she immediately launches herself out into the garden if I allow her to pass me and feeding her grapes their favourite treat by far is more dangerous than feeding a crocodile (well a little one!).

Any suggestions? bar a visit to a chicken specialist!

[Mrs Frugal]

Hello!

 

Oh dear! What a problem! Do you think it is a pecking order thing or isn't she aggressive towards Nutmeg? It may all settle down once she starts laying. They often seem to calm down once they get into the routine. My Pepperpot is really naughty just before she lays an egg even now, 9 months down the line - she flies up onto the Eglu and tries to escape over the gate into the main garden but she's always Little Miss Placid after she's laid the egg she's itching to get rid of.

 

I hope things calm down soon - I know just what you mean about little crocodiles when it comes to feeding grapes! I had to ban them because I feared for my life!!

 

Good luck and let us know how things go, won't you.

[Lesley]

As Kate says, she may well settle down when she starts laying. Let us know how you get on.

[Nicola H]

My Ginger Nut was the same at first she even attacked the cat, who now won't go out when the chickens are free ranging. Like Lesley and Kate say they do calm down once they get a bit older and start to lay, ours is so lovely now she is still first for everything but not as aggressive, and is the only one to sit on our knees and be carried around.

 

I read a good tip on another forum pick her up and tuck her under your arm and just carry her around the garden, do this every day and she should become tamer and learn that you are boss, you could give it a go I know it works for aggressive cockerals................

[motherhen]

Try spying on Ginger - mine, especially Sybil, behave quite differently when they know someone is in the kitchen. When we spy on them they are perfectly content and doing all sorts of scratching and preening things.

 

Definitely let Ginger know who is the boss. We did lots of handling of Sybil and it has worked so well that when I approach her now she crouches down as if I were a dominant hen or a cock.

[Sheilaz]

Jane, its so useful when you come online!

 

Penny has recently started crouching as you describe and I've found that gives me an advantage, not being very used to handling chickens. Its so rewarding being able to pick them up easily (& have a conversation). I realized why she was doing it, but you've saved me a lot of time in searching through threads to see if this change in behaviour was OK.

 

If Sybil does it, I feel very reassured, & will carry on confidently being the boss!

 

So true about the spying...from house windows I can see they are happy & busy.....if I'm in the garden, they want undivided attention!

[Karen1]

My Claire crouches down, and I can pick her up and stroke her. I haven't managed to pick Camilla up though. She's happy to be near me and eat treats out of my hand, but if I try to touch her or pick her up, she runs away. She still seems a bit timid. Neither of them are aggressive though.

[Mrs Frugal]

Ollie, my 11 year old, embarrasses us to the roots of our hair when he goes into the chicken run and the girls assume their flattened posture - top of his voice (children don't do embarrassing quietly, do they ) "Oh look Mum, Clarry thinks I want to mate with her" !

[Louise]

Bless

[Lesley]