How to identify who is the head hen!

[MandalaMaMa]

I have been wondering how do you know who is the head hen for the flock when you don't have a rooster. What are the signs to watch for. My pullets are 11 wks and 8 wks old.

 

[five is my dog]

sometimes leadership takes a while to develop. but put food in a bowl and see which one pecks at another to take food. sometimes this just means they are higher up on the food chain. what breeds do you have?

 

[MandalaMaMa]

sometimes leadership takes a while to develop. but put food in a bowl and see which one pecks at another to take food. sometimes this just means they are higher up on the food chain. what breeds do you have?

Thanks for the reply - I have 2 buff Orpington's that are 11 wks. 2 Ameraucans ( but now after looking at post- pics think they might be EE) 1 New Hampshire,1 Delaware and 1 silver Wyandotte. They are all 8 wks old. At first I thought it might be one of the Orpington's. She was a bit larger than all the others but now I'm not sure. The Orpington's seem to be the last to go in the hen house at night and the last to come out in the morning. Thanks for your help!

 

[Araucana16]

It's pretty clear after a while.

Usually it's the one that ultimately takes the place of the rooster in the flock. You know, the one that when you hear a hawk or a fox runs by, the others run away, and that one either runs more hesitantly or doesn't run at all. The one that is always ahead of the others when free ranging, the one that is always looking around and keeping a watch.

Head hen comes with some drawbacks, I believe.

 

[five is my dog]

Thanks for the reply - I have 2 buff Orpington's that are 11 wks. 2 Ameraucans ( but now after looking at post- pics think they might be EE) 1 New Hampshire,1 Delaware and 1 silver Wyandotte. They are all 8 wks old. At first I thought it might be one of the Orpington's. She was a bit larger than all the others but now I'm not sure. The Orpington's seem to be the last to go in the hen house at night and the last to come out in the morning. Thanks for your help!

i have a little 6 week old white hen and a barred rock that lead the other chicks around. usually they are the ones the other chicks follow.