Roosting and the bully

[Ljc01]

My 5 18 weeks old pullets have been in the adult coop for three weeks now. In the last few days my #1 hen Austro had started to chase out the young birds when they come in the coop at night to roost. This is the only time she picks on them. The pullets look like they are a week or so from starting to lay.
My set up is as follows: the birds free range all day. I have a 6x10 dog kennel I use for a coop. The food, water, nests and roosting bars are all inside this coop.
Could Austro been be doing this now because they are getting close to laying?
I have 4 nests for 13 birds.

 

[aart]

Could Austro been be doing this now because they are getting close to laying?

Very possible, if this is new behavior, that she knows they are close to laying and will start working their way into the 'adult' pecking order.
The RoostTimeRumble is the most contentious part of the day, even for well established flocks.