Why is one chicken sitting on another?

[khoe]

Could anyone explain this behavior to me? It seems mean to me. The chicken on the bottom is the head hen, so I don't know why she is putting up with it. Could she be sick?

 

[chickenboy190]

Is the one on top a rooster.

 

[khoe]

Is the one on  top a rooster.

No, there is 6 hens and a rooster but these ones are both hens.

 

[Backyardighens]

Mine do this too. They don't seem to mind, actually they seem comfortable. I'm curious to see what other people have for insight...

 

[chickenboy190]

Is she pecking the one on the bottom if she is maybe the one on top is just moving up on pecking list and just being mean if she is just sitting on her then she might just be sitting on her like I have seen some my chickens trying to move and they just step on the other one . Wait is she in a nesting box.

 

[khoe]

Yes, she is in the nesting box.

 

[chickenboy190]

She might be trying to kick the other one out so she can lay a egg.

 

[jerischicks]

Is the one on top a rooster.

Hi,

Some of my hens do this also, and not in the nesting box.

Usually both seem docile and there seems to be no aggression going on. Sometimes however, it's an obvious attack with head pecking, in which case I step in.

I'd love to hear anyone's explanation for this behavior. What does it mean?

Although I don't understand it at all, I feel like as long as there isn't harm and abuse going on - it's (kind of) Ok?