[treacleminer]

One of my young chickens (Bruce!) a cotswold legbar, whom I've had from an egg, has always been very eager to come running up for food etc, but now seems more keen on pecking me than what I've got in my hands.  She is now 19 weeks old and I'm pretty sure that she's a girl in spite of her name.

Anyway, she's raising her neck feathers and puffing up and also pecking at me, which if I'm kneeling doing some weeding makes me somewhat nervous - she is a great character and huge fun, but I could do without the bolshieness.

Any suggestions of what to do about her behaviour please???  Am I still being seen as 'Mum' and a source of food, she does come to me for protection from the 'big girls'??
Help please

[beulah59]

Keep a water spray at hand and give her a short spray whenever she pecks you?

[dizzylizzie]

Hi, d you have a recent photo?

[Sassy]

I have a Cotswold Legbar hen born last Easter. She was very friendly and would jump onto my head and shoulders and follow me round. However, in the last few weeks I feel she is a bit aggressive and peck us both at every opportunity. Wonder if its a coincidence or a breed thing?

[Foxy]

threacleminer you sure its a girl?

[joshbuchan]

maby they might be getting ready to go broody as spring/summer is close and want u to back of....  then again it might be the breed.

pufffing feather and pecking your hand and legs are noramly signs of a male defending his turf.
dose she/he drop one wing and scratch/stamp the floor with his legs in a circle?

[treacleminer]

Foxy I'm not sure of anything

Here's a piccy of her though - she has been much calmer today, wondering maybe there's a  large chunk of greed and curiosity in her makeup.

[Flowerpower136]

My girls are a bit 'pecky', especially greedy guts Paxo.  But it's not aggression, its curiosity, and wondering if I'm edible, cos you never can be sure till you try . . . .  But it does hurt sometimes.

She got a great beakful of sweater the other day, and managed to pinch a great wadge of me along with it.

Does make me think that if she can 'pinch an inch', probably time for the diet to start again!

Water spray sounds like a good idea?

[grumpydad]

you could always spray yourself with something that they hate....ukadex for example, that would stop her.....lol.....you may be living outside for a while though....lol