My hen and rooster seem to be fighting.

[PAH111]

My 5 month old hen and around 4 month old rooster seemed to be fighting today. They were flapping their wings and standing tall, arching their neck, etc. Is this just me over reacting, or were they actually fighting? Is this normal? I'm new to owning chickens, please help!

 

[Zaxby's2]

They might have been fighting over the pecking order. Usually when chicks are young anyone can be at the top, but when they get older the rooster generally ends up being dominant. Your rooster might be getting to the age where he makes himself dominant over all the hens, and I think your older hen didn't want to put up with it, and so fought him to see who would be on the top of the pecking order. Let me know who won.

Oh, and

 

[PAH111]

Thank you! She's normally so sweet, I had no idea what happened....she's my little snuggler.

 

[cat1994]

Hens can be pretty rough on young roos when they start to come of age, I'm sure things will mellow out when everyone finds their place on the social ladder.

 

[sourland]

He is probably at the point where he is trying to mate her, and she is just saying NO!