[helens-hens]

My Welsummer hen who is about 11 months old went off lay about 2 weeks ago and started moulting about a week ago (which probably explains being off lay!).

Though she is the largest girl, she has always been a very nervous hen and bottom of the pecking order not that the other 2 are ever aggressive towards her.

This last week she has started running aggressively up to Florence (a gentle, small brown ranger and who is top of the pecking order) looking as though she is trying to be dominant. So far Florence has generally ignored her and there has just been the odd peck between them. This morning however I turned around to find the Welsummer had actually jumped on top of Florence., again I assume trying to show dominance. This only seems to happen when they are out free ranging.

I was wondering if anybody else noticed hens acting like this in the moult or perhaps it is just a coincidence. Its not happening that often so far but whatever it is, it is starting to worry me. All hens appear to be fit and healthy in all other respects.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

[ANHBUC]

She may just be felling more confident, they are pullets until around 12 months old and then hens after that.  The dominance may just be to do with her maturing. 

[helens-hens]

Thanks Anhbuc, I must admit once they start laying I tend to think of them as hens which of course they're not as they still maturing.

It is only 2 weeks ago that Florence still had to encourage her out of the run when I let them out in the morning as she was too nervous. I have noticed that she has stopped doing that this last week.

I'll have to wait and see how it all pans out 

[8doubles]

Hens are generally lethargic when moulting especially during a heavy moult.
One can only imagine what it feels like to grow a new set of feathers (a new beard is bad enough) and it may be a case of over compensating to keep her place in the pecking order.

[Sparkyrog]

Hates growing new beard so never shaves it