I can't tell who is "In Charge"

[gg706]

I am curious out of my flock who is the top hen. They are approximately 4-5 months old. I have 1 Araucana rooster and
3 Araucana and 2 Wyandotte hens. I am assuming the rooster is in a lead roll. But I don't clearly see any leadership or pecking order behavior out of anyone. They roost at night in different orders on the roost. I thought the lead hen would take the spot by the rooster on the roost. But they don't seem to claim the same roost spot each night. Are they too young? Is it because my flock is small? How do you determine the pecking order? This is for purely curiosity on my part. I guess this a "good problem" to have as the flock is very content and are not abusing each other. What behaviors should I be looking for? Any subtle clues I may not be noticing?

 

[ChickensDance]

I wasn't sure for a long time who was the boss of my flock, either. We don't have a rooster, but all four of my hens are generally peaceful and submissive and friendly with each other. But over the last few months, it's become clearer. My Brahma hen, Padma, is definitely the boss. She marches around like a diva, head and tail very high. She also makes a big racket squawking and cackling every time ANY hen lays an egg or any time she perceives a threat or something exciting going down. Every once in a while I see her correct the runtiest, most submissive girl in the flock, especially if the runty girl has stumbled on something delicious or interesting in the yard and Padma wants in on the action. She sort of gets in her face or even gives a quick peck at the back of her neck. If I give them treats, she is the greediest and muscles into pole position, and if I hold another hen, Padma struts straight over to the other girl as soon as I put her down, and kind of stands there proudly to make certain her status is still understood. "Just because Mama Hen picked you up and snuggled you or gave you a treat, don't get any ideas. I'm still the feathery queen down here." Maybe you've noticed any of these kinds of things in your flock?

 

[mcjessen]

Usually by a couple weeks old you can see who the dominant bird will be but sometimes you just can't.

I have two flocks of three birds each. In the older flock, my BA is clearly the boss because the other two have missing butt feathers. The BA also sounds the alarm first and is the first to treats. She was the only chicken to survive sickness and the two birds I have now with her were brought in as adults. So they came to her home. They live by her rules.

In my younger flock, the most vocal is dominant. She proved it later as she would literally pull the other two off the roosts and challenge them with chest bumps. That flock is currently 10 weeks old and she was showing this behavior at around 4-5 weeks.

I have to two flocks together now in the same run but separate by chicken wire. The BA and the dominant from the younger flock challenge each other through the fence.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

I think a rooster does reduce some of the peckishness from the girls, as does free ranging. Since yours are not obvious, watch the interactions when they are around food or treats. If one walks up to the food and the others move away, that's your dominant pullet.

They will also form little cliques within the larger group. My EE pullet is low girl in my flock of 9, but can eat without fear around three of the more dominant girls as they seem to accept her. The ones who are at the lower end of the order constantly push the EE around as if they are not secure of their places and don't want to slip to the bottom.
I enjoy watching the group dynamics. We should look for a course in chicken psychology!

 

[mklundahl]

MY 6 GIRLS (ALL DIFFERENT BREEDS) ARE ABOUT 3 MONTHS OLD AND HAVE ESTABLISHED NO SORT OF PECKING ORDER WHAT SO EVER EITHER! I KIND OF LIKE IT THOUGH...AFTER ALL THE HORROR STORIES I'D HEARD ABOUT THEM POSSIBLY BEING MEAN TO EACH OTHER I'VE BEEN PLEASED TO FIND THAT THE ONLY THING THEY GANG UP ON IS THE DOG

 

[gg706]

Thank You all for the replies...I will keep an eye out for the behaviors you mentioned. I love watching the flock dynamics. It is very interesting to me! Thanks alot!