Chook Behaviours - establishing Pecking order or Rooster ?

[IamSamSam]

Hi all.

I have (what is believed to be a Hen) running at "her" sister ending with a toe to toe stance standing on its toes and neck stretched feathers flared. This 'hen' is also starting to do this with the other laying hens. Though I noted not to the Mother Hen, the top chicken.

It sounds/looks like rooster aggression. Am I right? the 'hen' is 23 weeks no spurs no crowing but no eggs that I can tell. (NOTE: we are 1 month off winter)



Roo or Not...... Thanks SamSam (Photo at 21 weeks)

 

[TheJadeChicken]

Looks like a hen. The stance your describing is pretty normal. My D'Uccles do that with babies and eggs. My others do that for pecking order. I actually have a polish and cochin that do that all the time.

 

[IamSamSam]

Thanks ! I have seen my girls peck and pull feathers out but never this style of aggression.

 

[sourland]

She's a pullet. It is not at all unusual for pullets/hens to flare hackles and mock fight.

 

[RedDrgn]

Our five did this to each other all of the time...and they were all pullets. It's a normal pecking order thing, and can be pretty amusing to watch.