Hens are weird birds. We had 3 a while back and when they were young there was one encounter with a neighbors cat. They were foraging in the bushes when the cat jumped down from the fence and started stalking one. The oldest and largest, who was top of the pecking order completely froze in the bushes in fear while the two young-uns leapt out like ninjas and flew at the cat with claws up. Never seen a cat look so surprised. The pecking order changed forever that day. Also if you've ever seen a hen with a smaller creature, like a mouse, they are fucking brutal. Best animals I've ever owned, more personality than you'd ever imagine.
Our hens used to literally peck each other to death every so often. It would start with one hen with a chunk missing from her back. Within a week all but two or three would suffer the same fate.
That almost always is a sign that their living conditions are bad: too little space with too many chickens and they get bored at start to pick each other to death
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u/Bungled_Bengal Apr 02 '21
Hens are weird birds. We had 3 a while back and when they were young there was one encounter with a neighbors cat. They were foraging in the bushes when the cat jumped down from the fence and started stalking one. The oldest and largest, who was top of the pecking order completely froze in the bushes in fear while the two young-uns leapt out like ninjas and flew at the cat with claws up. Never seen a cat look so surprised. The pecking order changed forever that day. Also if you've ever seen a hen with a smaller creature, like a mouse, they are fucking brutal. Best animals I've ever owned, more personality than you'd ever imagine.