Of my flock of 14 pullets, only on has started laying. We have thus far installed 2 of the 5 nest boxes. If a pullet who is not laying yet were to just hang out in the nest box, would the laying hen attack her? One of my non-laying pullets loves to sit around in the boxes (I chase her out when I can), and has just showed up with an injury. Could the one laying hen have gone after her? Both are about 5 months old, and are about the same size.
I've never had it happen when a hen who was laying attacks another hen. Mine sometimes shack two or three at a time and share a box. I've got a couple of crotchety old hens that are grouches to everyone. At most they give the interloper a warning peck but not enough to cause injury. But with broody hens it can be different. They get very contrary to who or whatever comes near the nest. But as a young pullet I wouldn't not think your one that is laying is broody. I would suspect the injury occurred under other circumstances.
It's a bloody spot about the size of a dime that is missing feathers. It turned out it was not a nest box issue, but that one of the meaner hens was picking on her. I'm working to solve the issue.
