One of my older hens is mounting her coop-mates!!

[kristenm1975]

I have 11 hens, 5 of which came as day-olds from the hatchery, and have recently re-homed 6 others from various sources. All of a sudden, one of the original hens is doing on a full-on rooster style mounting, including pecking at the neck of the hen under her. I've only seen her do it to the hens that came with her from the hatchery. I'm wondering if she's making a bid for the highest spot on the pecking order now that some of the bigger girls that also came with her from the hatchery are gone to new homes. What do you think?

I know for sure that she's a she because I've seen her lay an egg.

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

Yes, it's aggression and pecking order behavior in a hen.

 

[ThePolishPrincess]

She's asserting herself as the new leader. Hens will do this if no rooster is present. Nature is wild, isn't it?

Hey, wait long enough and you may even get a crow.