Does Every Flock have a Pecking Order?

[TheSpiceGirls]

Thanks everyone. My girls are 13 weeks old. And I guess they must know their order and all is in order. There is no pecking or fighting. All is good in my yard. I was just curious.

Amy

 

[abhaya]

if they were brooded together you may never see them peck at eachother but they do have a pecking order. Some dominant chickens are just more forcefull than others

 

[Kathleen1115]

Funny -- I was about to ask the same question. Our eight girls (now 21 weeks) were brooded together and I've never seen any real pecking. We do have one dominant chicken -- she was the biggest chick (although is the smallest now that everyone is full grown), matured early, started laying first. But I can't see any real order among the rest. I have a vague suspicion that our RIR is at the bottom but otherwise there doesn't seem to be any differentiation. Our chickens have a ton of room and no real competition for resources, so that may be why we don't see it.

 

[donnavee]

Quote:
I have 10 hens in lots of space and the pecking order is subtle, but there. Actually, I'm not really sure who is the top girl right now, but I have also noticed that the order seems a bit varied. So, #1 may peck everyone down the line, but then #6 may peck #2? I had 2 RIRs that were top girls, but they were pretty pushy - liked to shove everyone around. I rehomed them and the flock is more harmonious now. Everyone likes to chase the Golden Campines from time to time, but then other times everyone hangs out nicely together. Treats usually bring out the worst behavior - that and bed time when the hen house sounds like a bar room fight for about 10 minutes.

 

[Chicken.Lytle]

Quote:
There is always a "pecking order" with groups of animals -- including humans.

 

[Pinky]

Chicken.Lytle :

Quote:
There is always a "pecking order" with groups of animals -- including humans.

That's true

 

[TheSpiceGirls]

Actually, I just saw a sign this morning. How funny is that. I was out there and one was misbehaving and my Cuckoo Marans ran up to her and the misbehaving chicken stood up tall and puffed up her chest and so did the Cuckoo Marans (who is about twice her size) and they stood there for a few seconds and then went about their business. So I definitely have a led hen.

I wish I had caught that little show down on video. It was funny.

 

[GammaPoppyLilyFlutter]

A pecking order can sometimes be like a high school clique if there aren't very many hens. The most confident and leader-like one takes on the responsibility of normally sounding the alarm call and strutting her stuff. The others are just kind of there. Or at least that is how it is with my 4 GSL pullets. Not violent, but they look after each other.

 

[artsyrobin]

Quote:
Treats usually bring out the worst behavior - that and bed time when the hen house sounds like a bar room fight for about 10 minutes.

Sounds like our coop at night- and the roo ignores the squabbles!

 

[OrpingtonManor]

I thought my original hens had no pecking order either, until one of them got hurt. Then, very quickly, another one took the lead. When the original alpha hen recovered, she had to assert herself to get back that lead position, which happened easily.

She is a benevolent leader. She rarely intervenes, and things run smoothly. If she needs to step in, she puts a foot on the back of the problem bird, gives them a light peck, and order is restored. Rarely does anything stir up the flock order. Adding new birds, hatching chicks, giving away birds, these things do require a brief shuffle of the pecking order. Rarely does the grumbling last long. She has stopped laying, and is now retired from the nest box. I will keep her forever, though, for her great personality and leadership skills.