Hen behaving like a Rooster

[ichoudhury]

I have a dominant Red Comet or Cinnamon Queen Hen who is a great layer. She also like to beatup on a Lavender Orpington Bantam really bad. So bad that my Banty stays up in the perch throughout the time they are inside the run.

Lately I am observing a strange transition. My rooster not trying to mount her (Red Comet) at all and Red Comet (the Hen) mounting the Banty. What gives!

I initially thought it was just dominance but I think I'm now dealing with a confused Hen.
She will chase the Orpington like the Rooster does to other Hen. Then basically the same exact process will take place between this two Hen. Her tail would even go down as if she's attempting to fertilize her eggs. Anybody seen this behavior ?

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Yes it is normal- a display of dominance by a hen to another hen. They appear to be mating but I have seen it done right in front of a roo. This is normal because I have seen it in several batches of chickens. Only one or two top hens appear to do it from what I can tell.

Nothing to worry about and there's no use culling because the next batch does it too from what I have found. I haven't seen this behavior in bantams yet.

 

[ichoudhury]

Ah thanks! I thought I have a strange case at hand ... My Rooster would make a strange sound (as if he's annoyed by the situation) but that's about it. All the other hen careless. Anyway, I've been trying to keep the Bantam fed as much as I can, as she (the dominant hen) wouldn't allow her to eat in peace. Bantam usually stays up on the perch while they are in the run/coop.

 

[Kazzbo]

Hi. Yes having the same issue. In fact this hen has been behaving like a rooster since birth, being a bully etc. So much so I named her Franky. She lays strange eggs too, the surface is always lumpy. Not sure what this signifies. Lately she has been mounting the other hens. I thought I had a hermaphrodite on my hands, but just googled and found your post. So nothing unusual apparently. It would be good if Franky could fertilise the eggs without the crowing!