Watch This Hawk Instantly Regret Attacking a Chicken After Getting Teamed Up On

You need to watch this clip if you thought chickens were docile farm animals. Here, they demonstrate that they are perfectly capable of defending themselves when they need to. A bird of prey has attempted to bag itself a chicken snack and made the mistake of sweeping into the coop. Immediately, it is attacked by not just one but two chickens and ends up on its back on the floor! We don’t get to find out if the predator even survives this encounter. However, it is not looking too good when the clip ends. Scroll down to see another side of domestic chickens!

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Are Chickens Normally Aggressive?

Believe it or not, aggression and feather pecking is a recognized behavioral problem in chickens. In this particular clip, there were some chicks in the coop. The hens were obviously protecting their young and this is a perfectly natural response for most species of animals.

However, behavioral problems in chickens can develop if they are stressed, overcrowded, or if there is too much competition for food. In these circumstances, the aggression is directed at other chickens. They often peck the head and face of their coop mates. Because chickens have strong and sharp beaks, this can lead to some very nasty injuries and even to death.

How to Deal With Aggressive Chickens

Sometimes chickens attack humans. Most of the time they would prefer to run away from you but there are some situations where they will attack people. As we see in this clip, they can be very protective when they are sitting on eggs or when they have young chicks. This is the time to be careful around your chickens! It is best to steer clear of them at these times. As the chicks grow up, the problem normally rectifies itself.

Some chicken breeds are more aggressive than others. For example, the Rhode Island red rooster breed has a reputation for being quite aggressive.

You can help yourself by wearing long sleeves and long pants so that the pecks cannot break your skin. Also, stand your ground and do not turn your back. It is important that you show that you are the dominant animal in the coop. If that fails, some owners find that spraying the chickens gently with water helps to defuse the situation. Sadly in some circumstances, the aggressive chicken needs to be culled.