How do I know which chickens in my flock are high or low in the pecking order?

[connor97]

All my chickens seem to like each other, I dont see much fighting to be top hen or whatever. One of my easter egger hens how ever is very loud and stands taller than the others so I wouldnt be suprised if she is the leader.... what are some other ways to spot out who the top hens are and the who the bottom hens are in the pecking order?

 

[TimBaumann]

The next time you feed them, put some feed on a small pile instead of spreading it out over the ground. Then you an see who is allowed to eat and who gets chased away. That's how you'll roughly see who's on top and who's on the bottom.

 

[Baymule]

Who has the best spot on the roost? My top hen is the absolute boss of the coop. Sometimes when I am trying to put them up for the night, she stands in the coop door pecking the other hens. I have to pick her up so the others can go in.

 

[4 the Birds]

The next time you feed them, put some feed on a small pile instead of spreading it out over the ground. Then you an see who is allowed to eat and who gets chased away. That's how you'll roughly see who's on top and who's on the bottom.

+1

Feeding is one sure way to tell the pecking order with birds as well as with any animal. The Alpha and dominate ones will be first to feed and the lower hierarchy will hang back or be on the fringes.