Friendly family

[kelschicks]

How long does the pecking order process last with a new chicken in a flock? When will they become friends ?

 

[Den in Penn]

How long the pecking order takes can vary, from immediately, to a month, to never. It usually takes a few days for it to settle down. New birds sometimes take quite a while to really start to hang out with the rest of the flock. Sometimes it takes a cold night of huddling for everyone to really meld. If you are introducing juveniles to mature hens the juveniles may hang out together as a sub flock like teenage humans do. As individuals they may or may never grow to like and hang with other individuals.

 

[Mrs. K]

Winter seems to settle cliques into one big happy flock, however, some will like others better than some.