Bullying or pecking order?

[536320]

My 2 silkie hens grew up together and they are just over a year old now. This week the one started to peck and attack the other one. She is starting to get a bald spot on her head. Her feathers also seem to take long to grow out by her neck and torso. I assume she plucked some torso feathers as they are both broody. But it is way over 21 days that they have been broody. Could they just be establishing the pecking order (I only have the 2 hens) or is the one bullying the other? I don't want them to hurt each other and I don't know what else to do. Please help.

 

[Mvan42]

It is ha d to say for sure, but sounds like bullying to me. I haven’t had any of my chickens leave bald spots while establishing pecking order. Wait for other to chime in though, some may have had different experiences with it.

 

[Chickassan]

You have two broody silkies, only two, both broody.
These are amongst the most broody breeds on earth im sure you're aware.
Broody hens are pure evil, in case you havent heard.
You have this times two.
So, not bullying OR pecking order.
You my dear, have unleashed hell.
If you want it to cease you have two options.
1. Break the broody cycle by cooling the girls body temperature.
2. Give them fertile eggs to hatch.

 

[536320]

You have two broody silkies, only two, both broody.
These are amongst the most broody breeds on earth im sure you're aware.
Broody hens are pure evil, in case you havent heard.
You have this times two.
So, not bullying OR pecking order.
You my dear, have unleashed hell.
If you want it to cease you have two options.
1. Break the broody cycle by cooling the girls body temperature.
2. Give them fertile eggs to hatch.

LOL. PMS on steroids. Thanks for the feedback. It was just strange as they both have been broody before together and nothing happened. The one is also a little shy and skittish when not broody though. I close off the nesting boxes and put an ice pack underneath them twice a day to break it quicker. They seem a little better today. Will just watch them closely. I've also put some lavender and rosemary in their beds/nesting boxes to try a calm them down.

 

[Chickassan]

The older they get the worse and more often this is going to happen.
Silkies are insane.

LOL. PMS on steroids. Thanks for the feedback. It was just strange as they both have been broody before together and nothing happened. The one is also a little shy and skittish when not broody though. I close off the nesting boxes and put an ice pack underneath them twice a day to break it quicker. They seem a little better today. Will just watch them closely. I've also put some lavender and rosemary in their beds/nesting boxes to try a calm them down.

 

[536320]

The older they get the worse and more often this is going to happen.
Silkies are insane.

I still love them to bits. They are just over a year old now, so until what age will they get broody? And will this behaviour stop once they are not broody anymore? Is there something I can put on the one hen to deter the other from pecking at her head? She looks like a homeless hen now, lol. Sorry for all the questions, but I'm new to this and want to give the best care I can. Thanks in advance.

 

[Mvan42]

Lol, I know nothing about silkies. But that makes since. Broodyness changes them. My broody went after our cat the other day. (He ran away so no harm done but she didn’t like him in the backyard with her babies.)

 

[FortCluck]

Lol, I know nothing about silkies. But that makes since. Broodyness changes them. My broody went after our cat the other day. (He ran away so no harm done but she didn’t like him in the backyard with her babies.)

This made me laugh... I can just see a cat being chased by a broody

 

[Mvan42]

This made me laugh... I can just see a cat being chased by a broody

Yep as soon as he saw the feathers all fluffed out and her clucking he was out of there.. he wouldn’t give her a chance to get more than a few steps.

I am glad that neither of the cats bother them.

 

[Chickassan]

Silkies never stop going broody, even when they no longer lay eggs.
The pecking nonsense will cease once they've been broken.

I still love them to bits. They are just over a year old now, so until what age will they get broody? And will this behaviour stop once they are not broody anymore? Is there something I can put on the one hen to deter the other from pecking at her head? She looks like a homeless hen now, lol. Sorry for all the questions, but I'm new to this and want to give the best care I can. Thanks in advance.