Chicken Cliques?

[SilkieMitch]

Not a worry so much as a curiosity... but do any of y’all have chickens that move in “cliques”? All my chickens are within a year old of each other but were raised in three different batches. Two of those batches live together (the full size chickens) while the other batch (the Silkies) are in a separate coop, but all 15 free range together during the day. All of them get along with no problems, but they have three separate cliques that they move in while ranging, and they tend to roost in those cliques, too. It’s like they are three separate flocks, even though they are together most of the time, LOL. There’s not even really a pecking order to it (one little group isn’t top dog over another group), they just like their mini-flocks—I guess those who brood together, stick together? . Do y’all see this a lot in your flocks?

 

[chickenlittle21]

Yep, I see it in my flocks, especially with my younger ones

 

[rosemarythyme]

It's normal. Even if they get along as one big flock they tend to stay with their own subflock in most cases.

 

[Callender Girl]

My girls absolutely have their own cliques, mostly based on who was brooded together. But, also formed by who lives in the various coops. The good news is that everyone gets along during the day when they all free range together.

Bad weather moved in quickly yesterday and since everyone was in a coop (not necessarily their own), I just closed doors to keep everyone dry and safe. Although I usually get a few girls who don't want to go in without a fight, the "misplaced" girls were so happy to get back with their own crew that there was barely a squaw when it cleared off.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Not a worry so much as a curiosity... but do any of y’all have chickens that move in “cliques”? All my chickens are within a year old of each other but were raised in three different batches. Two of those batches live together (the full size chickens) while the other batch (the Silkies) are in a separate coop, but all 15 free range together during the day. All of them get along with no problems, but they have three separate cliques that they move in while ranging, and they tend to roost in those cliques, too. It’s like they are three separate flocks, even though they are together most of the time, LOL. There’s not even really a pecking order to it (one little group isn’t top dog over another group), they just like their mini-flocks—I guess those who brood together, stick together? . Do y’all see this a lot in your flocks?

Yes, for sure. My older group are 4 silkies and a Marans 3 times the size of the silkies. They were brooded together and the Marans sleeps in a pile with the silkies, while the other standards, which are younger, sleep on the roost.
They all get along, but hang out together in their respective groups during the day as well.
Interestingly my new hen, who I got as a single adult, switches from one group to the other from one day to the next.

 

[Tre3hugger]

Mine are definitely cliquey, mainly based on brood.

 

[aart]

Yeppers. Usually changes once all are laying...except those that coop together might stay 'separate'.

 

[Folly's place]

I think of them as 'family groups', hatchmates, who will often stick together for a long time, all normal. Here, chicks raised in the flock with a broody hen will remain in her group, while brooder raised chicks also keep together.
Mary

 

[GonzoTheGreat]

When I had two leghorns, they stuck together. The three who I think are Welsummers stick together. The Golden Wynadotte kinda does her own thing soemtimes.