Broody hen - pecking order disputes - and bantam pullets

[fmernyer]

I just asked on another forum about my hens suddenly starting to peck another hen. The short answer was a pecking order dispute possibly brought on ("suddenly") because I was away for a few days with someone else caring for them.

But I had another issue that I didn't tie in until now: a hen that's getting all broody-like. She's in that nest all day and all night sitting on everyone's (unfertilized) eggs. I take her out - put her in the run with everyone else - and when she's allowed out of the run in the evening...she goes right back to the nest and her broody behavior. (I'm on the forums researching ways of breaking her of that, now).

Its the same hen they're picking on. Is that why? Because she's hogging the nest and it ticks them off?

Also - I have a 4 month old bantam pullet that I'm slowly trying to intro to the flock (the rest are red sex links - 5 of them). I think I already know the answer to this but is there any way at all I can use this hen's broodiness to my advantage to help introducing the bantam to the rest of the flock?!? The answer is probably a big old laughing 'no' but I have to ask!!

Thanks in advance, as always!!

~Dawn

 

[sourland]

The trigger that is causing them to peck at her is her change in behavior. The puffed up, wings out, head down, screeching and changes in general demeanor have them regarding her as different. Since she is 'different' the rest of the flock is trying to assure that they are positioned above her. Not at all unusual for broody behavior to upset the dynamics of the pecking order.

 

[fmernyer]

SOO interesting! Thank you!