So....one of our hens higher on the pecking order is "mating" our lowest hen on the pecking order. 
I just started putting our 6-week-old chicks outside within view of their coop, and noticed this interesting behavior yesterday.
We don't have any crowing yet, but this higher-up hen has been sort of growling at me (similar to a broody squak) when she sees me come out of the house.
I'm assuming this isn't completely rare, but is there anything that I can do to stop it? The hen low on the pecking order is getting kind of beat up in general.
We're putting in a larger run soon, and a few of the adults will be going to new homes to make room for the younger girls. Maybe they're bored? Overcrowded? Just missing a rooster?
Any ideas?
BackYard Chickens › BYC Forum › Raising BackYard Chickens › Chicken Behaviors and Egglaying › Hen mating another hen
Hen mating another hen
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