Hens fighting?

[LisaHen269]

My two 16 month old hens have been fighting (jumping on each other, pecking etc). It only seems to be when i pick one up and give her a cuddle and put her down, they will.go at each other immediately.
Their feathers fluff up. I have tried to stop them but i get clawed at.

Why is this? It's the middle of summer here in Aust.
Could it be a broody thing? They haven't been broody since i've had them.
is it normal? Jealous?

I just don't want them to kill each other.

 

[Judy]

Sometimes the chicken that gets handled by a human then gets attacked. You might want to try not handling them, to see if this will stop it.

 

[aart]

Sometimes the chicken that gets handled by a human then gets attacked. You might want to try not handling them, to see if this will stop it.

Excellent Advise!

 

[LisaHen269]

I've handled my hens lots of times and never had a problem.
it's only beem the past week. And no matter which hen gets picked up, the both attack or get attacked.

 

[aart]

There may be a shift in pecking order going on, sometimes it's better not to try and be a chicken...but just a chicken keeper.
If what you are doing is not necessary and it's causing problems, stop doing it and see what happens.
Who knows what they are 'thinking'...they are funny sometimes!

 

[LisaHen269]

They have been handled since 6 weeks old and have been handled by myself and my young daughters. I pick up my hens so my girls can have a pat and say hello, like we always have.
it's just very strange behaviour as now my girls are to scared to go near them.