If there's a pecking order, I can not see it

[Waffle Wattles]

13 hens and a giant Roo, congrats birds, you are adults.

Mixed flock.

When I feed them I see no discernable order and I see no fighting.

When they were younger, I noticed some fighting but the Roo came in hard and stopped them.

Has this created a first come first serve no real pecking in my flock?

 

[CoopintheWoods]

Some roosters will do an excellent job at keeping the peace in their flock, seems like that's what happened in yours.

If you can't see the pecking order and everyone gets along? That's the chicken-keeping dream right there.

Best wishes!

 

[Chookiemom]

I guess 13 is your lucky number

 

[saysfaa]

13 hens and a giant Roo, congrats birds, you are adults.

Mixed flock.

When I feed them I see no discernable order and I see no fighting.

When they were younger, I noticed some fighting but the Roo came in hard and stopped them.

Has this created a first come first serve no real pecking in my flock?

The pecking order is there. They all know what it is. They are all happy enough with it to not feel much need to challenge it. Since no one is challenging it much - no one feels much need to defend it.

Lower ranked hens are still giving way to higher ranked hens but it is just looking away instead of running away, simply leaving the best roosting spot open instead of being pushed off it, l
being busy with something else until the higher ranked hens have chosen their spot at the food dish. Concept, here, not necessarily details.

The Roo's management has a lot to do with the hens being happy with the situation. One would have to be very unhappy with it to want to mess with him too while challenging the status of any higher ranked hen.

 

[theoldchick]

The pecking order is well established in your flock. The sign are there.

Who do you think is the boss hen in this photo? The one up top and despite looking like she's asleep, she's keeping the other hens off her roost. I've seen my hens chest bump each other, do the glare, the freeze in place and dare, the mad dash and smash. I have one old hen who raises her wings like an eagle to prove she's the boss. The signs are there if you take the time to watch.