one confused hen.

Hello,
New to the site and not sure yet how it works. We lost our rooster 2 wks. ago, the hen that was closest to him is now mounting our younger hens this started 2 days ago. The (Sussex) older hens (2) are 1 yr. 3 mos. the younger hens (4) are 7 mos. and are a road island red/ buff orpington mix. One of the reds has laid one egg since March and the other (the one that is trying to replace our rooster) has recently stopped. Is this normal chicken behavior? The 2 reds are very hateful and would rather spend their time beating up on the other 4. Please help. Thank you in advance Shirley.

 

Thank you all for the wonderful welcome and the advice.

Now if we choose not to have another rooster will she just continue this behavior and is this causing her not to lay? She is very very aggressive with my little ones more so with Speckles, as she is the one that will follow me and even ask to be picked up, she will peck our shoes till we do, or she will come sit with me when I sit in their yard to watch them. This is the most soothing thing to do.

My doctor asked me if I was depressed and I told him "Nope I have chickens." They are funny to watch and sometimes like now frustrating as we are still learning. We are never sure if we feed them enough or right as they seem to be starved all the time. I have some friends that had chickens when they were younger (now 76-86 year old friends) say they never seen chickens act as crazy as ours do. The rooster would bring the girls to the front door (before their yard was enclosed) and he would crow or peck at the door (knock) if dinner was later than normal.

Thank you again and we will consider another roo. Love all the pictures you have of your animals.

Loving life in the Hesperia CA