Fighting Hens

Two chickens are fighting. One of them is a setter, who came off her nest for a short break.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Fights
• Fighting
• Hens
• Chickens

[antionidept]

Broody hen just trying to increase her rank in the pecking order so that her chicks wont ever get bullied by that chicken once they hatch.

[Volynyanka]

Hmm, interesting.

[antionidept]

@nuggetwetyou Also, they usually don't start a fight unless the other hen comes close enough. They aren't aggressive just very defensive. If the other hen leaves her alone she will probably not go picking a fight. But if let's say she's feeding the chicks and the other hen comes close, she might get angry and start something.

[antionidept]

@nuggetwetyou She might start a fight if she's lower in the pecking order than the other hen. Then again, individual chickens have their own personalities. Some are docile while others aren't but I grew up around hundreds of chickens and most broody hens will fight other hens (and even roosters at times). It's best to keep a broody hen alone. Or, monitor the hen when she's out feeding. She wont get up to start a fight while she's keeping the eggs warm.

[nuggetwetyou]

@antionidept i am hoping to get one of my 2 hens to hatch a few eggs for a friend. do you think she would also attack the other hen when nesting? (there both sisters)

[dave1212ish]

@jason0898 oh well ok lol

[jason0898]

look people hens fight now and again to get ranks sorted, thats where the term pecking order and hen pecked comes from, its normal !!!! whats not normal is people who fight cock birds with steel spurs those people should be shot!!!!

[Yuratchka]

Hens are animals, what do you expect? Maybe one of them ate the other's food or something? =P

[rickbar123]

a tough bird just has to cook a little longer

[furytime72]

Okay, agreed! Just a misunderstanding.

[antionidept]

You misunderstood me. As long as the chicken is caring for the chicks they share her pecking order rank. Therefore she will try to increase it while she is broody. Once she weans her chicks they will no longer share it with her. They will be on the bottom of the pecking order (due to them being smaller and lighter than most of the others)

[furytime72]

Totally disagree. They arent hyena's they're chickens they dont establish a pecking order so that their chicks will grow up and be Cocks of the roost They do it to establish their own dominance.