Hen mounting other hens. Yuck! Normal?

[thatbethchick]

My 3 year olds, six of them, don't hang out with my new girls, 16 week olds, at all, 11 of them.

But since I have added the pullets to the flock, one of my three year old bullies the other three year olds. I've seen them "freeze" near her but tonight's the first night I've seen her mount one of them.

What up?

No loss of feathers, no freaking out, (besides for me

), and seemingly no stress. The girls, all of them together, are cooped up at night and have choice of coop, yard or pasture during the day.

Thanks. Beth

 

[mtnhomechick]

One of my RIR's did that. Hmmm. Good Question.

 

[Blackbird]

In your case its probably more of a dominance thing. The older hens trying to show the younger ones whos boss. (Although, it could be a personal preferance for her

)

I'm sure eventually they'll get along fine, all in time.

 

[saddina]

It happens, it's all about who's boss. They're chickens, they have different rules. (also the answer I give my son to explain why our roo has 4 wives, but people only get 1).

 

[shelleyd2008]

I agree, it's all a dominance thing. I have a duck that would do that, it was very traumatizing for me!

These ducks were just becoming old enough to figure out what it was for, and the drake and this particular duck are both pekins. So of course, they both look identical, except for the curly drake feathers. I would see them and think 'Oh look, Toot (the drake) is trying to breed'...then I would realize it was Puddle the duck and kind of freak a bit. My son is too young to realize that this is all that odd, so he would just yell at them 'Puddle, stop that! Stop biting that girl!'