Rooster randomly attacks

[Folly's place]

Older hens can develop issues with their ovaries, and produce testosterone, and act like cocks. They will grow male feathering patterns too. Mary

 

[centrarchid]

Mounting isn't just mating. It's all about dominance. It's not unusual for a dominant hen to do what you are seeing.

I have seen this. Dominant hens coming into lay will assail subordinates that are soliciting someone to cover them. Two things seem to be at play and dominant rooster relevant to both. Hens covered by rooster are much more discriminant with respect to whom they solicit. Rooster also suppresses the aggressive hens. Same hens that are in the "male" mode are the ones that get into the more serious battles when chicks are not involved.

 

[shannon84]

I've only seen her do the mocking of mating once I just brushed it off on her being kind of stupid or silly, I had no idea that hens could be rooster like. But she is laying good everyday so far, she is very dominate. No crowing for her thank goodness

maybe it was her just mounting her and not mating, she will bite the back of the hens head while doing that like a rooster though. So far she hasn't been a real problem just has moments. All of this is mind blowing to me, had no idea that this isn't very common or that they can have male hormones. My birds are nuts I guess

 

[microchick]

I would really bet that her behavior is dominance related.

I have young cockerels that will mount and mate younger cockerels when they get around them. No, the younger cockerels are not thrilled with this behavior and I can't say that I blame them. They usually run for the hills the moment they can get free which is what the more dominate cockerels intend for them to do.

I have also seen my Welsummer hens stand on other hens backs in order to peck them on the back of the head.

No doubt about it, chickens can do some strange stuff that is completely normal for them but seems a bit bizarre to us.

 

[shannon84]

I would really bet that her behavior is dominance related.

I have young cockerels that will mount and mate younger cockerels when they get around them. No, the younger cockerels are not thrilled with this behavior and I can't say that I blame them. They usually run for the hills the moment they can get free which is what the more dominate cockerels intend for them to do.

I have also seen my Welsummer hens stand on other hens backs in order to peck them on the back of the head.

No doubt about it, chickens can do some strange stuff that is completely normal for them but seems a bit bizarre to us.

Very bizarre lol yes she is very dominate, and sometimes with the rooster too. But she seems to like the hen and the rooster just very bossy and very brat like. She's also the small one ha! So crazy! Wow the roosters start young then with being dominate it sounds like

 

[microchick]

Very bizarre lol yes she is very dominate, and sometimes with the rooster too. But she seems to like the hen and the rooster just very bossy and very brat like. She's also the small one ha! So crazy! Wow the roosters start young then with being dominate it sounds like

Ah, so she is a big chicken in a small package. That explains a lot. Dogs are that way. The smallest and youngest of our 5 is the boss of them all and they bow to her authority. Especially funny when the largest is almost twice her weight and size.

 

[shannon84]

Ah, so she is a big chicken in a small package. That explains a lot. Dogs are that way. The smallest and youngest of our 5 is the boss of them all and they bow to her authority. Especially funny when the largest is almost twice her weight and size.

That's so true with dogs lol the smallest dogs have always done the most damage to me. I feel like that can go for humans sometimes too ha! That's so crazy! I wonder why that is.

 

[microchick]

No matter which species it is, it's all about attitude. I've always suspected that if the smallest doesn't have attitude, it's going to get the stuffing kicked out of it and it knows it.

 

[shannon84]

No matter which species it is, it's all about attitude. I've always suspected that if the smallest doesn't have attitude, it's going to get the stuffing kicked out of it and it knows it. So true!!!

 

[jenniferlamar70]

I'm pretty small and have a big Irish attitude. it's true big things come in small packages..




Edited by Staff