NewZealandChickenOwner
Hatching
- Jan 8, 2025
- 7
- 8
- 9
Recently I got 2 new, barred rock hens. They were kept in a run with a covered cage to live in for an isolation period. This run is next door to the Wyandotte's chicken house, with an door between.
The new hens were let into the adjoining coop for the night but separated in the daytime. In hindsight, this was a bad idea.
A barred rock was already on the perch for the night, then an Wyandotte hen jumped up. The new hen grabbed the Wyandotte's comb and shook the Wyandotte like a dog shaking a rat. The victim's neck was twisting in all directions. The hen tried to escape via flapping their wings. I had to grab the Wyandotte hen to seperate them. Once outside the new hen restarted the attack, until they were separated again.
I have had pecking order fights before, which involving chickens kicking each other, batting their wings, pecking each other, biting each others combs and chasing each other, but no vigorous shaking.
Is this normal pecking order fight behaviour or is this over the top?
The new hens were let into the adjoining coop for the night but separated in the daytime. In hindsight, this was a bad idea.
A barred rock was already on the perch for the night, then an Wyandotte hen jumped up. The new hen grabbed the Wyandotte's comb and shook the Wyandotte like a dog shaking a rat. The victim's neck was twisting in all directions. The hen tried to escape via flapping their wings. I had to grab the Wyandotte hen to seperate them. Once outside the new hen restarted the attack, until they were separated again.
I have had pecking order fights before, which involving chickens kicking each other, batting their wings, pecking each other, biting each others combs and chasing each other, but no vigorous shaking.
Is this normal pecking order fight behaviour or is this over the top?
