Hen squatting for bully hen

[maryann momhen]

I have a very gentle Rhode island red, who always used to squat and let me pet her, she still jumps in my lap for treats, but doesn't let me pet her anymore. That's fine, but what I don't understand is why does she squat when the bully hen comes near her. Then the bully hen gets on her back and pecks her. Then I go and chase the bully hen away. But my rir still is getting her head feathers plucked out. Whton earth would she sit there and let the hen peck her, but when I try to pet her she runs. Makes no sense. Even if I'm holding a treat she snaps it out of my hand and still doesn't let me pet her.
Is this normal behaviour?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Squatting is a submissive behavior. She squats for the dominant hen out of submission. Your dominant hen takes advantage of the situation and pecks her.

You are hand feeding the hen, so that's generally seen as another submissive behavior, dominant members can take food away from lower members, so your hen probably doesn't see you as dominant over her. It's all politics, or the pecking order.