- May 28, 2012
- 21
- 4
- 67
We originally had three naked neck hens and when those were about 7 months old, added 3 more naked neck hens and a rooster. Up until this morning, one of the older chickens (Gertie) had never allowed the rooster to mate with her. And the rooster was always submissive to her. This morning I was saying hello to them and I heard a really weird noise from a chicken in the nesting box. I looked and it was Gertie. She was standing up with an egg half out. I had never seen this before and at first I was like omgosh, something is wrong. But she passed the egg right in front of me, and then just stood there. So I went about my business, thinking well that was weird.
I am watering around the coop and the next thing I know Gertie and the rooster are fighting. Like in the air, fighting. So I went there and broke it up. It basically started right back up again. Then, Henrietta (usually the most submissive of the three older girls) attacks Gertie!! Unheard of! And bites her, and tears a superficial hole in her neck. And then the rooster kind of joins in. I was able to stop it quickly.
But now, I do not know what to do, is this just a violent change of pecking order, should I let it happen, or should I pull Gertie because she is really nervous and going on perches that are not normal for her, and basically hiding behind me when I go in.
And I don't really know if the stress of fighting with the rooster is what caused whatever she was doing with the egg passing this morning. This is a favorite chicken, what do I do?!
I am watering around the coop and the next thing I know Gertie and the rooster are fighting. Like in the air, fighting. So I went there and broke it up. It basically started right back up again. Then, Henrietta (usually the most submissive of the three older girls) attacks Gertie!! Unheard of! And bites her, and tears a superficial hole in her neck. And then the rooster kind of joins in. I was able to stop it quickly.
But now, I do not know what to do, is this just a violent change of pecking order, should I let it happen, or should I pull Gertie because she is really nervous and going on perches that are not normal for her, and basically hiding behind me when I go in.
And I don't really know if the stress of fighting with the rooster is what caused whatever she was doing with the egg passing this morning. This is a favorite chicken, what do I do?!