Hens fighting?

[kris13]

I read a few posts on this, but didn't quite come across anything age-wise/awfully similar. Quick backstory - We have two sets of hens, right now it's been about three weeks of having them being able to see each other / can't get to each other before we put everyone together.

So the older chickens have been together for about two years. No noticeable issues before tonight, but apparently two of them really got into it. Missing a bunch of neck feathers on both. They have more than enough run space, and never have seen either of them be hostile before. Concerns or just happens once in a while? (Their run has an electric fence / the other hens were fine, so fairly confident it wasn't an outside predator or anything.)

 

[sourland]

Probably a pecking order dispute. Lower ranked birds constantly try to improve their position, and higher ranked birds defend theirs. Any possibility of an aerial predator ?

 

[kris13]

Aerial predator, no, there's netting over their run. These two are two of the more pretty chill (usually) hens. They do all love underneath the coop area (that's where most of the feathers are) so maybe just like you mentioned, arguing over a particular spot or something.

 

[aldarita]

Since you actually have not seen them being aggressive to each other and they are over two years old, there is a possibility that they are molting, it is the season after all and also you found the feathers in their favorite place (under the coop). My chickens do rest under the coop for periods of time and when they get up to go about their business, they leave a bunch of feathers where they were laying.

 

[kris13]

Thanks. Hadn't thought of that. May turn on the game camera to see how they're interacting but that's a really good thought.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Pullets and hens fight just as much as cockerels and cocks and it’s more noticeable if you don’t have a cock in the flock. They are working out the pecking order. During roosting time generally the top hens get first picks.