Do hens fight?

[Charlene]

I have what I think are three hens, about 5 months old (no eggs yet). But I saw two of them standing up and posturing this morning and kind of chesting each other. Isn't that a rooster thing? Do I have two roosters?

 

[Oblio13]

Hens do it sometimes, too.

 

[flock-mama]

I think they are making pecking order. I have had hens fight with roosters at that age. Its kind of funny, they think they are so tough! Do you have a picture?

 

[Mrs MIA]

Hens fight too... sometimes more than the roos.

 

[1acrefarm]

It is not necessarily a rooster thing. I have a banty hen that will jump on bigger hens. She will fight the mirror just like a roo as well too. She will actually fight the mirror all day if you let her. When I have her in the house awhile where she cannot hear the roos as well she will even occasionally crow. She is definitely a hen because she lays eggs and she is currently broody.

 

[Darin115]

My white leghorn hens will fight like a rooster. Chest out, feathers on their neck raised and they flog each other over and over.

They did this when I moved them all together into 1 house. I assume they were establishing dominance.

Now they just peck each other on the comb and drag each other around the house when they get in a tuff. It is just harmless spats, no blood is drawn.

I did try to put 2 other hens in with them for about 30 minutes. The 2 dominate hens went at it for 30 minutes. I had to remove the new hens. They would have fought until one killed the other or passed out trying.

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

My little three week old chicks are starting that too! lol They are deciding their pecking order already!

 

[Eggseronious]

You will have Bosses or try to be.