Hen pecking another hen when laying

[AC2020]

First time chicken owner here and they just started laying. One of the hens started pecking the other one and pulling her feathers when she's laying. Is this normal? Do I need to interfere in anyway and if so, how? Thanks in advance!!

 

[LateBirdFarms]

When you say pecking, do you mean just in general? Or is she vent pecking? Does the pecking hen want use the nesting box? How many nesting boxes do you have?

 

[AC2020]

So the one being pecked is the first of my flock (19 weeks) to lay. The Rhode Island Red is only pecking her when she's trying to nest. There are 15 boxes, only 9 hens and 1 rooster. That's the thing though, she's not in a nesting box. She has made her nest in the corner of the coop on the floor. It's a 15x15 coop. And they are free range.

 

[LateBirdFarms]

Is the pecker the dominant hen? She may be just trying to make it very clear to your pecked that she's chosen a dumb location to lay! Maybe your pecked will get the point and move on! Do you have any egg decoys in your nesting boxes? Are any of your chickens using them?

 

[AC2020]

I do have egg decoys but no one is nesting in the boxes. Only the one is laying so hopefully they'll get it. I don't think she's the dominant one, at least she hasn't seemed to be up to this point.

 

[RubelliteRose]

I'm not sure if it was the right thing to do or not, but Opal, one of our lower pecking order hens, went into the nest box yesterday and was followed into the coop by her nemesis, Pidgey, who started packing her face. We shooed Pidgey out of the coop and stood watch to make sure she didn't go back in until Opal came out. We didn't get an egg from Opal yesterday, but she did lay her first egg this morning with no signs of further pecking

 

[LateBirdFarms]

If it's a particularly vicious attack, I would definitely step in. But if it's an option to lock the ladies in the run with access to your nesting boxes until they learn to use them, I would definitely recommend it before you find yourself on an old fashioned egg hunt every day!

 

[aart]

I've smacked birds that were harassing one in the nest.
If I'm there I will intervene, but you can't catch them all, and they usually work it out.
Onset of lay is a chaotic time, hormones are surging, pecking orders are changing, eggs all over the place, nests destroyed with overzealous 'arranging'.
It'll be alright.