- Feb 4, 2013
- 7
- 0
- 7
We recently introduced a young (not a chick but not laying yet) Bantam Cochin to our flock of 3 full-sized hens. Shortly after this, our #1 hen started to have some trouble walking and spent a lot of time sitting. A full explanation here would be too long, but I'm certain this is unrelated to the introduction of the new bird. After a few days we noticed that the new chicken spent a lot of time around #1, and when #2 & #3 came around she would go hide behind #1 or stand on her back. Then a few days ago my wife saw the new chicken standing on #1's back & pecking at her head. We wondered if maybe #1 not feeling well, combined with a relatively new chicken in the flock, had caused her to fall to the bottom of the pecking order.
In the last few days #1 has been feeling better & is clearly still at the top of the order. We have seen her peck at all three other birds. When the new kid tries to stand on her back she will stand up and squawk at her. Yesterday we let them all out to free range for a bit. As #1 was walking the new chicken would go try to stand in front of her. The older hen would keep going but fluffed up all of her neck feathers & seemed mad.
We have isolated the new bird & now we are wondering if it is a rooster. It is still pretty young and we have not heard crowing. It is not aggressive toward us, and is clearly afraid of the #2 and #3 hens. I have not had a rooster before. Does this sound like rooster behavior? If not, is there some other explanation?
In the last few days #1 has been feeling better & is clearly still at the top of the order. We have seen her peck at all three other birds. When the new kid tries to stand on her back she will stand up and squawk at her. Yesterday we let them all out to free range for a bit. As #1 was walking the new chicken would go try to stand in front of her. The older hen would keep going but fluffed up all of her neck feathers & seemed mad.
We have isolated the new bird & now we are wondering if it is a rooster. It is still pretty young and we have not heard crowing. It is not aggressive toward us, and is clearly afraid of the #2 and #3 hens. I have not had a rooster before. Does this sound like rooster behavior? If not, is there some other explanation?
