Hens higher in pecking order than rooster?

[Cold-Blood]

Odd question for all,

We have three hens that have always been above any rooster we have had in our flock. One is the head hen, an EE, next down is mix, third is a golden Wyandotte. The current rooster is a silver Wyandotte.
Is this an abnormal occurrence? Or has this happened to anyone else?

 

[nuthatched]

It's not too unusual, the rooster is chief protector (if he's good) and usually the leader but not necessarily the top banana.

 

[Cold-Blood]

@The-White-Elephant
@PippinTheChicken

 

[The-White-Elephant]

@The-White-Elephant
@PippinTheChicken

Thanks for the tag!

 

[Cold-Blood]

@nuthatched
That is kind of what drives me crazy, the hens cream the rooster and he is afraid of them, so he hangs back and doesn't do anything, just leaving them to deal with it
(They are pretty capable, I just wish it was the roo because he is sort of expendable)

 

[Chicken lover1980]

its not super common but it can happen. it really depends on the personality of the rooster and top hens. Ive noticed just like humans chickens who are confident can do anything there petty little hearts desire. for example i have a polish hen that absolutely dominates everyone (she doesn't discriminate gender) even if they are 2x her size except for her husband, who even tho she could beat into submission chooses instead to let him have his way lol

 

[SilverBirds]

I have hens who are over my rooster. The top hen keeps the rooster in check and the rooster keeps everyone else in line.

 

[nuthatched]

@nuthatched
That is kind of what drives me crazy, the hens cream the rooster and he is afraid of them, so he hangs back and doesn't do anything, just leaving them to deal with it
(They are pretty capable, I just wish it was the roo because he is sort of expendable)

Maybe your hens are jerks. He might let them have their way because they are the ones that will produce his genes, so they are more important

 

[Cold-Blood]

Maybe your hens are jerks. He might let them have their way because they are the ones that will produce his genes, so they are more important

The head hen is. She is also an egg eater, but is pretty much priceless because of her experience with predators, and all the other hens obey her instantly. She fights at the right times too. Predator list for her includes hawks, raccoons, maybe a fox, knows to keep the chickens away from the deep edge of the pond (XL catfish in it) and a Bear attack. The other two are not jerks and pretty much her second and third in command.

 

[The-White-Elephant]

The head hen is. She is also an egg eater, but is pretty much priceless because of her experience with predators, and all the other hens obey her instantly. She fights at the right times too. Predator list for her includes hawks, raccoons, maybe a fox, knows to keep the chickens away from the deep edge of the pond (XL catfish in it) and a Bear attack. The other two are not jerks and pretty much her second and third in command.

Egg eater?... No goo. It can "spread" to your other chickebs, if they see he.