One chicken suddenly pecking another?!?

[fmernyer]

My chickens are just over a year old. I bought them last year in the Spring. The 6 of them (now 5) have been together all that time with no issues.

The coop is large enough.

The 'run' is an 8x8 dog kennel that they've been in since the beginning of this summer - but bear in mind that they get free time everyday to roam the whole yard in the evening and some days they get the whole day.

I *was* away for 5 days and my husband took care of them...but he probably let them out of the coop sooner in the morning than I usually do although they may have had slightly less free ranging time in the evening.

While I was away my husband told me that one chicken was pecking another. I witnessed it today -

One chicken specifically pecks at another - trying to jump up on her back and pecking at her neck - even pulling out feathers.

It can't have been going on for long - she's fully feathered still - and I can't tell which chicken is getting attacked unless I'm watching it happening. It doesn't seem like the other chickens are joining in when its happening.

I'm aware of the pecking order and even that one chicken might assume the role of 'rooster' - but they'd been together for so long with no issues...and why only attack that ONE chicken??

Is this either of those behaviors (pecking order or mating behavior)? Why now? What can I do for the poor thing?

Thanks in advance!!

~Dawn

 

[scratch'n'peck]

Changes in routine can bring on pecking order issues sometimes. When the aggressive hen is showing dominance by pecking and mounting the other, you can push her off and chase her away. You could also firmly but gently push he back down with your hand and make her squat to show your dominance over her and your disapproval of her aggressive behavior. Some people remove the aggressive hen from the coop for a few days to see if that might bring her down a few pegs in the pecking order.

 

[fmernyer]

Excellent - thank you!!