1.5 yr hen trying to crow and fighting other chickens rooster style

[chickenmatt84]

I have 6 EE hens, 4 are bantams all 1-2 years old. My favorite bantam Robin did 3 decent rooster crows out of no where this morning. I went to collect eggs right after I heard her and I had to chase off the smallest hen who just started trying to be broody. As soon as the broody hen came out of the coop, Robin was jumping in the air and kicking her feet at ms broody like a rooster would. Then they were ripping feathers off each other. Normally the hens will peck at each other but have not seen them jump and kick. I had to separate them for now. Pecking order has already been established so not sure what exactly is going on. Or why Robin only went after the broody one. Robin is with the others just fine right now. Any advice on this situation?

Edit: Tried putting them together again and it is ms broody starting the attacks on Robin. I didn't see who started the first fight but its ms broody with the attitude.

 

[EggWalrus]

I have 6 EE hens, 4 are bantams all 1-2 years old. My favorite bantam Robin did 3 decent rooster crows out of no where this morning. I went to collect eggs right after I heard her and I had to chase off the smallest hen who just started trying to be broody. As soon as the broody hen came out of the coop, Robin was jumping in the air and kicking her feet at ms broody like a rooster would. Then they were ripping feathers off each other. Normally the hens will peck at each other but have not seen them jump and kick. I had to separate them for now. Pecking order has already been established so not sure what exactly is going on. Or why Robin only went after the broody one. Robin is with the others just fine right now. Any advice on this situation?

Edit: Tried putting them together again and it is ms broody starting the attacks on Robin. I didn't see who started the first fight but its ms broody with the attitude.

Sounds like typical chicken behavior. Broodies often get mean and defensive. As for the fighting, hens don't usually fight as hard or long as a rooster, but most all chickens fight like most chickens fight, ripping out feathers and kicking.

 

[aart]

Female chicken will fight with their feet.
Broody's are acting 'off' and can attract aggressive attention....and they can be aggressive too.
Separating them is very short term solution, should let them work it out.
Hopefully you have lots of space and hiding places to help reduce any damage.

If you don't want her to hatch out chicks, IMO it's best to break her broodiness promptly.

My experience goes about like this: After her setting for 3 days and nights in the nest (or as soon as I know they are broody), I put her in a wire dog crate (24"L x 18"W x 21"H) with smaller wire on the bottom but no bedding, set up on a couple of 4x4's right in the coop or run with feed and water.

I used to let them out a couple times a day, but now just once a day in the evening(you don't have to) and she would go out into the run, drop a huge turd, race around running, take a vigorous dust bath then head back to the nest... at which point I put her back in the crate. Each time her outings would lengthen a bit, eating, drinking and scratching more and on the 3rd afternoon she stayed out of the nest and went to roost that evening...event over, back to normal tho she didn't lay for another week or two. Or take her out of crate daily very near roosting time(30-60 mins) if she goes to roost great, if she goes to nest put her back in crate.

Tho not necessary a chunk of 2x4 for a 'roost' was added to crate floor after pic was taken.