Mean hen when others laying

The Cave

Songster
Oct 18, 2020
291
952
186
Ontario, Canada
I just witnessed one of my hens being mean to another hen while laying an egg! I couldn't believe my eyes, I scooted the mean hen out and watched so the younger hen could lay her egg in peace. After she was done mean hen came back AND the rooster also was checking the egg out. I didn't let him in the nest box with the lonely egg because I literally thought this is organized crime going on! The mean hens are the roosters two favourites.

I believe the mean hens are RIR, I haven't heard great things about them other than being good egg layers. What do I do?! I have 2 nesting boxes that are deep drawers mounted about 2' off the ground with straw in them. I also have a hidden area inside the coop with floor nest boxes about 6 that nobody ever lays in. I have 9 hens, about 4-5 laying at the moment. Any suggestions? I took photos immediately and was about ready to post her for sale but the rooster loves her and the two RIR have been with us for almost a year now.

Edited to add a photo of the organized crime gang.
tempImageXaaAyi.png
 
How bad was she pecking the other hen?
Aiming on the head/neck area, the other hen was laying egg so she tucked her head. I checked the hen over and no marks or blood. I ran over the second I heard the noise because I could clearly see my rooster outside so I had a feeling it was one of the RIR picking on a younger hen. The mean hen also lays in both nest boxes so it’s not like she was claiming that specific one.
 
Aiming on the head/neck area, the other hen was laying egg so she tucked her head. I checked the hen over and no marks or blood. I ran over the second I heard the noise because I could clearly see my rooster outside so I had a feeling it was one of the RIR picking on a younger hen. The mean hen also lays in both nest boxes so it’s not like she was claiming that specific one.
Did you just recently add more hens? How much younger is the younger hen?
 
I added 5 barred rocks about 3 weeks ago. The hen was picking on a mix breed hen she’s been with for months that just started laying.
Our comets used to pick on our EEs before (scaring them out of the nesting boxes and sometimes ripping feathers out of them) but this has pretty much been non existent once they grew up. It should be fine. It does look like the rooster would appreciate keeping the hens
 
Our comets used to pick on our EEs before (scaring them out of the nesting boxes and sometimes ripping feathers out of them) but this has pretty much been non existent once they grew up. It should be fine. It does look like the rooster would appreciate keeping the hens
The ages are:
RIR 2 years old
EE are 5.5 months
Barred rocks are 4 months old.
They are all about the same size, except the Rooster he's bigger!
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom