how to tell who the head hen is?

[Gonzo]

How do I know who my head hen is? I've seen plenty of pecking and such going on in the coop, I know a few that arn't the head hen, but what do I look for to know who the "Queen" is?

 

[Cindiloohoo]

My Roo favors the queen around here

That's how I know mine. NOBODY messes with Jessica.

 

[fargosmom]

I don't have a roo so I can't tell that way, but I do know that NO ONE messes with Lucy, and she rarely goes after anyone else . . . Ethel picks on Pickles and Buffy, and sometimes Pickles picks on Buffy - so that's the way I figure their heirarchy goes. Lucy is pretty much the boss lady, and (as a coincidence?) has the biggest floppiest comb. Whoever you see in your flock that eats first, chases others away from the best stuff . . . you get the picture.

 

[Illia]

With our girls, it takes almost a year for them to settle their pecking order - But in the mean time, the head girl is often the one with the most erect tail. It isn't that she is naturally like that, but that she holds it higher to assert herself. If not that, she's usually the most outgoing one, not the most friendly, but talkative and never picked on.

As for roos being involved - I've had all my girls in with my roo in one small area, and it is hilariously obvious who is boss. Our Light Brahma, Cheesecake, will not let him even near her. She will raise her hackle-like feathers, growl at him, box him, etc. He's pretty scared of her when she's in a mood, but still wants to do business with her. Sadly he never gets the chance.

 

[Gonzo]

I have this one Australorp hen, Elma... Nobody messes with her! I've only seen her mate with Blue our Cochin rooster who was the head, but thats another story... She isn't missing any of her feathers from mating, she always sleeps on the highest roost, and I've seen her chase down, catch, and clobber the snot out of a few of the other roo's. I'm thinking she's the head hen, but I've never seen her be assertive with the other hens... but Also I've never seen her picked on by the other hens. She's sweet, not super friendly, could care less if we were there or not. The other hens seem to enjoy our company... IDK? Could she be IT?

 

[Mahonri]

Head hen is the one that is never picked on by any of the other hens.

 

[chookchick]

Sounds like that could be your gal. The head hen will go up to the feeder, give the other hens "the look"--and they will back off. She doesn't even have to peck anymore, because they know what "the look" means....

 

[patandchickens]

Also, if one spot in your coop is definitely the best roosting spot (the highest end of a curvy tilty branch roost; or a place where you can sit 3" higher than anyone else on something supporting a straight roost at one end; or things like that) that is where she will be at night.

Pat

 

[australorpchick]

Juliet the BA is my head hen. She the largest chicken we have. She rarely pecks anybody, usually just to break up a squabble. The other chickens are not allowed to bother Snowflake the silkie. Juliet will peck anybody who picks on Snowflake, even if Snowflake started it.