feather keep away

[Klapper]

I'm kinda new to chickens and have noticed what I think is strange behavior. One chicken will sneak up on another and pluck a tail feather. Then the chicken that was plucked tries to get it back while the other 10 chickens all try to keep her from getting it back. Eventually she gets her feather back and carries it around looking depressed. It's not just one that gets picked on it could be any of them. Is this just a cruel chicken game? It's funny to watch until you see her walk away with her feather all depressed.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

Are they lacking space? Usually when chicks start pulling each others feathers out they're crowded, lacking protein in their diet.....or just plain bored. If you can, I would give them some room to get away from each other and scatter their favorite treat around to give them something else to focus on.
If this behavior escalates, it could lead to a serious problem. Feather picking, in my opinion, can become an ingrained behavior (meaning no matter how much space or fun things you give them they'll keep doing it, because its what they've always done. Creatures of habit those chickens are). Birds with red, plucked bottoms and necks are a sad sight. Cannibalism is even worse, though you usually have to be down right neglectful for it to get that bad.
So no, that type of behavior isn't really normal. Some pecking is to be expected. Some feathers lost are too. Chicks just randomly snagging feathers isn't. Good luck, I hope you figure them out