biting hen

[messymade3]

Help....my hen keeps biting my other birds on the back of the neck making them scream out in pain and she will not let go. I'm assuming she is at the top of the pecking order but this seems extreme. I am a first time chicken mama, and would just like to know if this normal behavior. My seven pullets are 10 weeks old. Thanks!

 

[JanetMarie]

Welcome to BYC! Are you sure this is a hen? This is rooster behavior. Not normal behavior for a hen that I've seen.

 

[messymade3]

Well when I ordered my chicks I asked for hens, but I'm sure they could have made a mistake. And we have kinda thought for a while that she might be a rooster, his comb has been much bigger than all the rest. He won't hurt them will he?

 

[JanetMarie]

Sounds like a rooster. He will hurt them if he mates with them too much. When roosters mate with the hens too much the hens will loose most of the feathers on their back, and sometimes bald spots on the back of their head, and they will be stressed from being ambushed all the time. He's too young to tell if he'll be a good rooster, meaning not overmating and watching for the welfare of the hens. At 10 weeks they have a lot of hormones and have a lot of energy.

 

[JanetMarie]

Loosing most of the feathers on the hen's back doesn't really hurt them, but they are more prone to be injured by the roosters toenails, and in my opinion, I would rather my hens have their protective feathers covering their backs.

 

[messymade3]

Thank you so much, I will be watching him closely. We live in the country, so no worries about zoning laws.

 

[shortgrass]

It could be the top pullet stating pecking order, but I agree that it sounds like young roo behavior; pullets don't usually do the neck grabbing

They'll get an order established and hopefully when puberty hits, he'll knock it off and be more gentlemanly; if not, stew pot...

 

[Naliez]

I had a pullet do this a couple times, at about the same age, to the lowest in the pecking order when I would hand out treats. She didn't hold on long, but she did pin the other one down for a few seconds. I make a loud "pssssst!" sound and stomp my foot to show her who's the REAL top lady around here and the behavior stopped after a few times. The low lady on the pecking order will now hide behind me to get her treats without being pecked. If you post a picture, I'm sure people can tell you for sure if he's a pullet or roo.

 

[aart]

10 weeks is a bit young to be even dominance mounting, let alone mating.

Pecking and grabbing feathers and body parts is part of pecking order regardless of gender and/or age.
It can seem violent and 'mean' to the uninitiated...it can get too violent and cause injuries.
Learning the difference between normal and too much is a matter of experience and observation.

If any blood is drawn, it's usually too much and needs intervention.
If anyone is being pinned down/trapped and repeatedly beaten/pecked, it's too much.

Crowding and boredom can cause excessive aggression......
......so lots of room and places to hide 'out of line of sight' and/or up and away from aggressors can help a lot.