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Both hens and roosters fight, and often, they fight with each other. Chicken keepers often notice squabbles between hens and roosters and become concerned.
Hens will stand their ground against roosters for several different reasons. Here are a few reasons why?
1. A Change in the Pecking Order
Both roosters and hens will fight, sometimes with each other. The most common reason why a hen would fight a rooster is that a pecking order needs to be established.
Chicken owners often see fights in the flock between hens and roosters, especially when young chickens are still growing up and trying to find their place.
The harshest battles will occur when a new chicken, or a group of new chickens, are introduced to your existing flock.
This will undoubtedly upset and change the pecking order, which will need to be re-established by your chickens.
There could be grave consequences if the new chickens are younger or substantially outnumbered by the existing flock. Chickens tend to gang up on any chicken that is bleeding.
The chickens will keep bleeding while the others keep pecking at their wound. If you do not separate the wounded chicken from the flock, it may even be pecked to death by the others.
The other chickens can end up eating the chickens, which is not a pretty sight. Luckily, you can do your part to prevent these civil wars by gradually introducing any new chickens to existing chickens.
The most common method is to fence off a small area inside your chicken pen so that each chicken can meet each other and eliminate any aggression without causing any physical harm to the new chickens.
After a few days, you can remove the fence and allow them to mingle.
However, you should always watch them closely and remove bleeding chickens before they get killed. After the chickens have been nursed back to health, you can try to ease them back into the flock for a second time.
2. Stress
Several types of stress can occur in flocks of chickens, and you can manage all of them. Some of the most popular reasons for stress can be chickens being too hot or cold and unable to find shelter.
Flocks that are heat-stressed will reduce their feed intake to minimize the heat generated by energy and digestion. Chickens may consume up to 10-20% less feed during the warm summer months than in winter and fall.
Another common reason behind flock stress could become more prominent during winter, as their living conditions may become dirty and wet.
Muddy ground and wet litter in a chicken coup can all contribute to stress in the flock. Hens will start to get territorial and attack roosters. If your chicken coup is in an unsafe location, predators may begin to snoop around.
Flocks will get easily stressed if foxes or other predators prowl around their coop during the night. They can even rob the hens of their eggs and sleep.
Hens may get moody and attack roosters and other chickens in the coop.
3. Overcrowding
Furthermore, overcrowded chickens may fight one another, as even the most docile hens will become frustrated when confined in too small spaces. They will fight each other and will not hesitate to fight a rooster!
4. Competition Over Food And Water
Often, chickens are not provided with enough food and water resources, causing them to compete.
Hens, typically broody hens or hens with young chicks, may attack a rooster at feeding times, as they need to provide for themselves and their young as well as they can.
However, roosters are usually at the top of the pecking order, which could result in some chickens, including mother hens, not getting enough food for themselves or for their young.
5. Hens with Young Chicks
Mother hens are always highly protective of their young, and they will show signs of aggression towards chicks from other mothers, other mother hens, and roosters.
The hens will peck at roosters if they feed or walk too close to their chicks, and often, roosters will try to strike back. However, they will back off quite quickly, giving the mother hens and their offspring the space they need.
Are Chickens Fighting A Rooster Really A Mother Rooster?
Although broody hens are not regarded as mother hens, they will naturally desire to become one. Broody hens will lay their eggs and become highly territorial around their nesting boxes.
Some chicken breeds, such as Buff Orpingtons, Silkies, and Cochins, are more likely to be broody.
Even if a rooster is going about their day, if they become too close to a nesting box, a broody hen will attack them, showing no mercy.
This is just normal broody hen behavior, and there is usually nothing to be concerned about.
How Do You Stop A Hen From Pecking Your Rooster?
Usually, mother hens should be kept separate from the rest of the flock, as the fights could soon become a bloodbath. However, if the fights only occasionally occur, you don’t have to worry about separating the mother hen from the flock, as her aggressive behavior towards a rooster is an instinct.
Should I Let My Hens Fight The Rooster?
Please keep in mind that not all flock violence will need your intervention. Occasional fights between hens and roosters are normal, but if a hen becomes severely injured, she will require your help and attention.
Fights between hens and roosters will rarely continue for more than a few minutes, and they won’t do any damage, so when it does, you will need to do your best to stop them.
Other Ideas You Might Like
- A Guide To Normal Hen Behavior
- How Long Does It Take For Hens To Establish A Pecking Order?
- 14 Best Chicken Breeds That Consistently Lay Great Eggs
- How to Raise Meat Chickens
- How to Choose a Heritage Chicken Breed for the Homestead
Conclusion
Mother hens will always fight roosters, and it is up to you to examine the situation. Some hens may not even be mother hens, but they still pick fights with roosters. Chickens fighting can always occur, and it is entirely normal behavior, but you should know when it worsens to the point where you need to step in.
