Odd Hen Behavior - Is This Normal?

[josephdad]

Guys, help! I don't know if this is possible but I'm pretty sure two of my hens are attracted to each other. Is this normal or is this something that I should get looked at by a vet? It could be that I'm just overthinking it but if this is possible, how can I get them back to normal so I can continue selling eggs? I need help because I'm losing a lot of business from this.

 

[BaaKaaawk]

I'm a very open-minded person but I don't think (this is completely aside from whatever your beliefs are in the human world) that chickens, or any animal for that matter, can be "LGBTQ" and they certainly do not have a "Community". Animals, especially birds, do not have complex cognitive ability like humans and rely on instinct and innate behaviors.

So if you're not just being silly/funny- you may want to try and diagnose what may actually be going on with your birds. However, based on your comments of "I'm losing money", etc. I'm going to guess you are more looking for attention/joking than actually giving a care about your chickens and as I write this I am not sure why I am even replying... but I am now this far in so be it.

Hens will always try to establish the pecking order however they see fit. So if your hens are mounting each other, they're just laying down the law. Likewise, if they are clustering together it is usually for protection as chickens have a flock animal mentality (AKA if there are a bunch of us and a predator comes, at least some of us will get away in the frenzy). If they're not laying and just "hanging out with each other" then perhaps they have passed their best laying time in their life (usually up to 3-4 years).

But again, your comment/title- which is likely offensive to actual LGBTQ people because you are comparing them to chickens, and likely offensive to non-LGBTQ people because likewise, you are comparing them to chickens- leaves much to be desired.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Guys, help! I don't know if this is possible but I'm pretty sure two of my hens are attracted to each other. Is this normal or is this something that I should get looked at by a vet? It could be that I'm just overthinking it but if this is possible, how can I get them back to normal so I can continue selling eggs? I need help because I'm losing a lot of business from this.

I'm sorry, but this makes no sense whatsoever.
What are you seeing? Post a video or some photos of behavior and birds.

If you have a hen that is mounting another, usually it's dominance. What does this have to do with selling eggs? How does this affect/cause you to lose business?
Has your egg production decreased since this behavior began?

 

[Nifty-Chicken]

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[casportpony]

This thread has run its course and is now closed. Please do not start another thread like it.

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[CHlCKEN]

Chickens don’t feel romantic attraction in the way humans do. Saying your hens are attracted to each other does sound cute, but I highly doubt this is the case. If by this you are referring to the fact that they mount each other in the way rosters do, this isn’t sexual or “romantic” behavior. Simply, it’s a way of showing dominance. I don’t know how this would slow egg production though, so we need clarification by exactly what you mean with this statement.

 

[KingD]

It's not only that they are mounting each other but it's that both of them won't do anything with the roosters. When one lays an egg, it'll hide it somewhere so only both of them knows where it is. They hide it from the roosters. obviously, I move them so that the roosters can fertilize them but it's still a problem.

Roosters can't fertilize an already layed egg. They mount the hens therefore creating fertile eggs to be layed..hope this makes sense.

 

[21hens-incharge]

This thread had been cleaned up.
ALL off topic, trolling, sarcastic remarks, insults etc have been deleted.

If you do not have something constructive to add please move on.

A link to the BYC rules for anyone wanting/needing to read them again.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/help/terms/

Thank you,

21hens-incharge

 

[The Moonshiner]

For members that are asking for more pics of those birds it may be quicker to go to the real source and ask.
https://tineye.com/search/e7497c11bd87fa2e9f358e70e7cf3701e2819d44?sort=score&order=desc&page=1

 

[SusannasMom]

I don't know how to help but I know it is certainly possible they could be attracted to each other. Maybe you could seperate them for a few days and then put them back together.

YOU NEED TO SUPPORT YOUR HENS