can pecking order start again when hen is vulnerable? any thoughts

[angelat]

hi all

just wondered if anyone has experienced pecking order rearing its head when one of the hens is in moult. i got a rescue hen several weeks ago to go with my other hen, they had a bit of banter for a couple of days but then settled down and became a 'pair'. however one hen has gone into moult and since then she seems a bit vulnerable and down and it looks like the other hen is taking advantage of this by being a bit bossy to her. im hoping when her new feathers appear she will be back to her normal self again.

angela x

[RichmondHens]

Yes the order will change when boss hen is moulting as they feel a bit under the weather then. They soon revert to their normal selves though once the new feathers are through. I have two absolute tyrants in my "old bag" pen who boss everyone around, but when they moult they creep around trying to hide in the nettles and long grass looking very sorry for themselves.

[Glutton4...]

I think the moult can be a stressful time to some Hens. You could try giving them a bit of a 'pick-me-up' in their food, like some Poultry Spice, for example.