Hen pecking flockmates only when they're being handled?

[fornax]

This is one that I haven't been able to drag up any information on. It's not something I have any reason to worry about; this is strictly curiosity.

I have 4 ISA Brown hens, about 5 months old. They're great birds. One seems to have settled into the top of the pecking order (or at least acts like it... no one is ever shy about stealing tasty morsels out of anyone else's beak given the chance). She will occasionally run at and sometimes chest bump one of her flockmates, usually when they descend from the coop. Other than a couple of times while the pecking order was being established, I've only seen her peck at one of the others on one occasion when left to her own devices. However... it seems like quite often, when I'm holding one of the other birds still to check them over, or sometimes when I scritch them while they're crouching, she'll run over and peck once or twice pretty aggressively at their neck. Occasionally she gets my hand... I'm not sure whether that's on purpose or incidental.

Anyone else seen this sort of behavior? Just curious what exactly about the situation triggers her to get aggressive.

 

[sourland]

I've seen this and can think of absolutely no reason as to the cause/purpose. Some birds will do this to a hen while or just after she has been mated by the rooster.

 

[aart]

I've seen it too, seems to lessen as they get older.
I just push the aggressor away....or 'peck' her on the head if she doesn't get the hint.

 

[hatchbrew]

My PBR just started doing this too. She was the first to lay out of the group, now everyone is catching up. She does it when I'm scratching the other crouched chickens. She runs up and gives them a couple fierce pecks on the face or neck. I've peck her away, yesterday she pecked at me, which lead to me picking her up and treating her like a baby chicken. Kill the lil dinosaurs with kindness.