My older hen acting like a rooster?!

[minifarmmom]

I just witnessed my older hen (4/5 years old) mount another hen, just like a rooster! We haven't had a rooster for awhile now but why is she doing this?!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Possibly a show of dominance, or since you don't have a rooster, she's decided to play the role of one.

 

[minifarmmom]

Possibly a show of dominance, or since you don't have a rooster, she's decided to play the role of one.

I've seen a few other times now, does this mean she will quit laying eggs?

 

[rosemarythyme]

She might not lay a lot due to her age, but should keep laying. There are some extreme situations where the hen goes full rooster mode but that's very unusual.

 

[Ridgerunner]

It is a show of dominance. The one on bottom is accepting the dominance of the one on top, either willingly or by force. You can see that with hens and pullets. You might see that with cockerels and roosters. I've seen that a very few times with hens and pullets. it was willingly, no force involved.

It has nothing to do with whether she will lay or not. It just shows she is dominant.

 

[minifarmmom]

Thanks everyone!