Chicken bald back

[carrotspine]

I've had my four girls since May and so far all has been well, until today. They've been out in their run all day and suddenly my bluebell, Pop, started seriously picking on my blackrock, Curtis (definitely a girl, named by my son!). Pop has been pecking Curtis and in my husbands words, who witnessed it first, was rearing up on her like a cock fight. So much that Curtis ended up cowering in a corner. Pop was then locked in the run (not too much of a punishment as the grub holder is in there!) to keep her away from Curtis. I've just openned the run up as they need to get back in to go to bed and within a few minutes Pop has had another little peck at Curtis, she did fight back though. I'm worried that Pop could end up terrorizing everyone, so far it's all been very placid. Does anyone know why she just started pecking one of the others and what should I do if she carries on? I did think she could sleep in the garage tonight in the cat box but my husband said it was too much too soon Thanks for any advice

[kissinuk]

Are they laying yet? If not it could be that she is ready and is trying to set the pecking order. If this is the case you just need to let them get on with it, but monitor and watch out for any bleeding etc. If anything like ours it should be over in a few days, although one of my girls did get chased for a while, but it did settle down (and now she has turned the tables and is boss!).

[carrotspine]

They've been laying since I got them in May. You could be right though in that she could be thinking shebis the boss! So far, they serm ok todsy. They've been shut in the run but everyone seems happy and there's no blood