Hen doing the rooster dance?!

[Livvydays]

This morning when I let my hens out in the yard, one hen did "the rooster dance" by dropping one wing down and going around another hen! I had gotten rid of my rooster last summer. So I have heard that hen can begin crowing like a rooster when no rooster is in the group but never heard of the hen doing the rooster dance! All comments welcome as I'm very curious about this!!

 

[CoopBoots]

I have multiple roosters and a good laying hen in my flock still does this to other hens on occasion, in a flock of approximately 25.

She's the only one I've observed doing this that I recall. She has a slightly more aggressive/bully attitude than most other hens. That said, I think it started because she was having an insecure moment in the pecking order. To my knowledge she was never anything but a mid-level hen, but she felt the need to make her limited authority felt, haha.

 

[CombNWattles]

Chickens are so weird! My older/higher ranking hens have done this on occasion; my conclusion is that it’s an expression of dominance, not a male-specific behavior.

 

[thecatumbrella]

That's hysterical. I've never had a rooster in any of my flocks, so I always get one hen that starts to assume the personality. I've had a crower and an attack bird that defended "her girls". I'm sure they have no clue what they're doing or why.

Honestly, I'd take the dancing over the crowing!

 

[MysteryChicken]

Head hens(Alpha) will display dominant behavior towards lower ranking hens in the flock. Dancing, Mounting, Upright Sass with side step, & lowered shoulder are a few.

 

[Ridgerunner]

When you don't have a rooster in your flock, a hen will usually become flock master and take on many of a flock master duties. Occasionally one will demonstrate her dominance by actually mating another hen, even to the point of touching vents. They do not all do that, most do not do that, but occasionally one will.

I don't know if your hen followed up with a mating attempt. Even if she did it does not mean she is twisted or bent. She does not need therapy to help straighten out her sexuality, she may still lay well. But I agree, it's just a dominance display.