How can you tell who your lead girl is?

[happymom99]

I recently got my first chickens. I have a mixed flock of 7 hens. It is very easy to tell who is at the bottom of the pecking order; my salmon faverolle and my cochin. My easter egger and my wyandotte seem be falling in the middle somewhere, but I am not quite sure who my lead girl is. I thought it was my black austrolorp, but now it seems like maybe my welsummer and my blue andalusian might be trying to be lead girl.

How long does it usually take for the pecking order to be established?

Once it is established is it easy to tell who is who?

Thank you,
CJ

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

Its not always easy to tell and sometimes it changes I have noticed with mine. Usually it's the one pecking at the others bawking "ALL MINE" when you throw scratch grains down! LOL

 

[Happy Chooks]

Who is the first to eat treats and pecks others out of the way? That's the easiest way to tell.

 

[jenni22776rn]

My 3 year old RIR Gretta is my head lady..I can tell because she is always the first in the coop at night and gets the best roosting spot...and she is always the first to put the younger chicks in place...and she also lets our Rooster know in no uncertain terms he will not be having his way with her..but at time it is hard to tell because my other 2 ladies Buff Brahama and BA seem to want to be the boss...but all in all Gretta claims her place and is the boss!

 

[Life is Good!]

I know who my top 'two' are....but not sure who's 'lead'.
There's the one who is ALWAYS out of the coop first when the pop door is opened in the morning - and the first back INTO the coop at the end of the day when I come to close it. She's like the kid in 2nd grade who always had to be 'first!'. Remember them?
Then there's the one who is most interested in the treats container and lunges/plows her way through to get there first. Because she eats first, she also finishes first and gets the best spot in the sunshine too!

 

[classicsredone]

I have a couple that are always first to dive into treats, come to see me at the door, etc. Lately they're acting like moody teenagers. One or two will run around, and the queen bee will look at them, as if to say "I pity tha foo" and then bonk them on the head.

 

[cmom]

Quote:
I agree. There is usually one who wants to be first. Since they haven't been together very long they may be sorting things out.

 

[poseygrace]

I have 9 hens/pullets, and I can tell who is last, but who is first is a bit trickier. I agree with the others, there are two that could both be it. Maybe they can kinda share lead spot? There are two of mine that rush for food, and they peck the others out of the way. They are best friends, and don't really pick on each other at all, that's why I can't tell who's one and who's two!