Why is a hen doing this?

[MamaNichelle]

I have a hen, her first batch of chicks she hatched she was super protective of. Now that they’re old enough to not be grow outs she’s been attacking and pecking one of them. Unsure if it’s a roo or a hen but it’s quite and doesn’t bother anyone.
She runs at it, and chases it around trying to bite it. So it stays far away and tries to hide from her now. They don’t even take dust baths together anymore. What’s with the massive change in behavior?

 

[MamaNichelle]

The multicolor puff ball head hiding spot. Black puffball is the sibling that comes and sit with it after a little while.

The mom will get vocal with the black one but won’t peck or attack that one.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

How old exactly are they now?

Are they Polish? Is the mom Polish?

 

[MamaNichelle]

Mom is a silkie, due to their look I don’t think my silkie roo is the dad… I think it’s this guy (pictured) they’re 4 and a half months old (I think…. I’ve had hatches like crazy, some a few days apart)

My main rooster mounted the chicken getting attacked today… wondering if it’s female and the mama hen is mad about it do they do that?

 

[sourland]

It appears that they need more space.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Mom is a silkie, due to their look I don’t think my silkie roo is the dad… I think it’s this guy (pictured) they’re 4 and a half months old (I think…. I’ve had hatches like crazy, some a few days apart)

My main rooster mounted the chicken getting attacked today… wondering if it’s female and the mama hen is mad about it do they do that?

Ok, I asked because it’s not uncommon for chickens to attack another that looks weird to them, including those with puffball heads. Maybe mama has made the break from baby-rearing, and now she is just bothered by the looks of the one that she’s pecking.

 

[MamaNichelle]

It appears that they need more space.

It’s in the works, and almost completed also downsizing my Roos, have have ended up with too many (only one in the main coop)

 

[MamaNichelle]

Ok, I asked because it’s not uncommon for chickens to attack another that looks weird to them, including those with puffball heads. Maybe mama has made the break from baby-rearing, and now she is just bothered by the looks of the one that she’s pecking.

Possibly

 

[SamLockwood]

It could be the lack of space, it could be jealousy: they'll sometimes fight over anything. Sometimes one will just take a disliking to another one for no apparent reason at all.