Dominance in Hens

[DotTheHen]

Hello! So I witnessed something very strange today while watching my girls as they free ranged. So my BR, Stripes, was just walking along near my cuckoo maran, Chicken, when Chicken just jumped on Stripes and grabbed onto her neck feathers. Chicken is a heavier hen with a large comb that flops over. I'm very sure they weren't breeding, but is that a normal show of dominance in hens? This is the first time I've ever seen them interact like that; they usually just peck at each other or chase each other around. I just want to make sure it's not something I'd need to separate Chicken for.

Thanks!

 

[DotTheHen]

Chicken also has spurs, the longest of my one other girl who has them.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Did Chicken grab on for a second and let go, or did she continue harassing or bothering Stripes immediately after?

As a general rule as long as no blood is drawn or damage done, and the lower ranked bird can still eat and drink without much issue, it's nothing to be concerned over.

And my top hen grew spurs as well, once we added chicks.

 

[DotTheHen]

Yes, she just kinda hopped on her and chomped her neck and hopped off, and they just kinda carried on and walked away. I've noticed that my hens Dot and Chicken are the most dominant, with Stripes being somewhere from the middle rank to the lower ranks. No blood has every been shed within the flock, thankfully!

Also, is it bad if I leave Chicken's spurs, or should I trim them? They're about an inch long but very nubby. Thank you!

 

[rosemarythyme]

As long as the spurs aren't getting in her way I would leave them alone.

 

[DotTheHen]

Okay thank you!

 

[el polo froggo]

It sounds like your describing Chicken as if she were a rooster- but even if so eggs won’t be fertile if you refrigerate them.

 

[aart]

I'm very sure they weren't breeding, but is that a normal show of dominance in hens?

Yep, mounting is not always about sex but dominance...even if Chicken is a male.

but even if so eggs won’t be fertile if you refrigerate them.

Not true
They'll still be fertile, just that hatching viability can decrease at lower temps.
But plenty of people have hatched refrigerated eggs.

 

[el polo froggo]

Yep, mounting is not always about sex but dominance...even if Chicken is a male.


Not true
They'll still be fertile, just that hatching viability can decrease at lower temps.
But plenty of people have hatched refrigerated eggs.

Yeah- not looking back I this I should have said not likely to hatch.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

Hello! So I witnessed something very strange today while watching my girls as they free ranged. So my BR, Stripes, was just walking along near my cuckoo maran, Chicken, when Chicken just jumped on Stripes and grabbed onto her neck feathers. Chicken is a heavier hen with a large comb that flops over. I'm very sure they weren't breeding, but is that a normal show of dominance in hens? This is the first time I've ever seen them interact like that; they usually just peck at each other or chase each other around. I just want to make sure it's not something I'd need to separate Chicken for.

Thanks!

Yes, I have seen that before with my hens. Usually it ends pretty abruptly.