What's up with my hens behavior?

taprock

Crowing
12 Years
Nov 1, 2010
1,999
238
286
Northern L.P. Michigan
This is Peep. She is just over a year old.
70972_img_5728.jpg

She has two new things going on and I'm not sure what it means. I'd love to hear any ideas.

#1 Peep has always been the wanderer of the bunch. She has wandered off 5 times. Twice I found her on the other side of the property. Two times she spent the night out because I couldn't find her. Two weeks ago she spent two days and nights out. I found her beyond our property - we have 22 acres and only by chance - she was wandering contently through the woods. The chickens free range but lately I have been putting the them in the yard about 8 and then I close everything up later. The last week I have found Peep outside the coop in the yard perched on the pop door. This is after dark and everyone else is roosted in the chicken coop. I take her in and put her on her usual roost. But every night is the same thing. Any ideas why? My husband says she needs a feather trim.

#2 Peep has always been the sweet bird that comes when I call her. She will run all the way from the coop to the house if she sees me. In the last week she has gotten aggressive with the other hens and youngsters. I understand the youngsters because she is establishing the pecking order but why pick fights with the hens she has always gotten along with? I have noticed two other hens with the same bad attitude toward each other.

Thanks
 
Could she have a nest hidden somewhere that she wants to set on?

Or it could be something as simple as her not being able to see well with that crest blocking her vision......I have a Polish bantam hen, and a silkie, and neither one of them see very well. I often have to pick them up and put them inside with the rest of the flock......

She sure is a pretty hen! Love the pic!

Sharon
 
She has a beautiful crest, and I'm betting that it is diminishing her vision. As to the temperment changes--???
 

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