grooping question

[crooked stripe]

I hope this is the place to ask this so forgive me if not.
I have 8-10 weeks old chicks (far from day olds but) when free ranging when the roo takes off in one direction all will follow. Is this just a bunch of birds following another or is it part of the pecking order? When the roo crows all hens stand up and look for him. John

 

[wynedot55]

the roo is the flock leader an protector.an he also finds food for the hens.

 

[Rte.66_chicks]

It's cool to watch the roo take care of his hens. When he finds goodies, he will peck and talk, telling them about it, but he lets them eat first.

 

[farm_mom]

We keep a roo mostly because of his great skills at keeping the girls together on free range. The less likely you are to have wandering chickens, the less likely you are to lose them to predators. Our roo does and important job of keeping his ladies safe, together and as previously mentioned, well fed!!