abnormal sexual behaviour?

[jennybain]

I have just witnessed abnormal behaviour in my hens. I have 2 newcomers which aren't integrated with the original 3 birds yet but are allowed to range together. Up until now the older birds have chased and pecked the younger ones but tonight one of them grabbed a new one by the neck feathers and mounted and treaded her. The new bird didn't run but just stood and let it happen. Has anyone seen this before??#
Is it true mating behaviour or just a display of dominance?

Should I be worried?

[Two_Sheds]

I've had it with my (all female) guinea pigs. With them, it's dominance

[HayleyB]

Ya know I've never seen that happen with my lot... You sure they are all laydees???

[jennybain]

The older ones definitely are ladies, have had 3 eggs a day for over a year. Only one of the new ones has started laying so far.
It is the old one who mounts the new one though, not other way round.
Maybe just another bullying tactic.

[Bramble-Poultry]

it happened to me when we combined the two lots fo layers. i beleiev its a dominance thing. The "standing there and letting it happen" also occurs when i walk near to certain hens. They crouch down, wings spread and stay still until i pass, as if to say that i am dominant to them.

Obviously they're not my type, but its reassuring that at least one animal in this house thinks itself lower in the pack order than me! (it is probably the ONLY animal that does) The dogs nicks my chair of an evening and the cats only consider me to be a provider of food. they cuddle the kids not me!!

[jennybain]

right, that makes sense actually. My ones do the crouching thing too when we go near them. This is probably a good sign then that they are 'interacting' at least. Maybe they will be able to share a run soon.

[Snadger]

They are just establishing a pecking order...............if they wander round the pen holding hands, THEN you need to start worrying!

[HayleyB]

it happened to me when we combined the two lots fo layers. i beleiev its a dominance thing. The "standing there and letting it happen" also occurs when i walk near to certain hens. They crouch down, wings spread and stay still until i pass, as if to say that i am dominant to them.

Obviously they're not my type, but its reassuring that at least one animal in this house thinks itself lower in the pack order than me! (it is probably the ONLY animal that does) The dogs nicks my chair of an evening and the cats only consider me to be a provider of food. they cuddle the kids not me!!

Hmmmmm, is this Mr or Mrs BP? Mine do drop when I get close but then the dogs cats and horses all see me as the one to keep happy

[Bramble-Poultry]

Mr BP - Jen is well and truely top of the pecking order!!

[HayleyB]

I guessed as much

[matthew2riches]

If you are sure you have no cockerels, it sounds like dominant behavior.

[TEB]

I read about this when I was researching in preparation for getting our own, and as previoulsy mentioned it is/was a dominant thing, also you can have a situation where all the other hens gather round and watch "the show" and sometimes help balance the one on top, never seen it happen and apparently it doesnt hurt but those claws are sharp and I would keep an eye out for any possible damage to the submissives back.

[MaureenHall]

I witnessed this behaviour in one of my old ex-batts (pre-fox!). It was a dominant female, Hyacinth treading one of the subservient ones who'd got a bit too cheeky and was trying to get up the pecking order