Pecking order already?

[sadiebeth12]

I certainly shouldn't be surprised, I have 4 daughters after all, but my one week olds seem to be playing "king of the hill". I have one little girl who has alway been very friendly (I think she's my BR) and she jumps right into my hand. Now the very aggressive EE will actually throw herself at the BR to knock her off my hand! Maybe my BR wasn't friendly after all but just trying to be the dominant one. Hmmmm..... Drama in the brooder too. Just what we need. My poor husband and son. My husband always joked about living in the shed, now it's being converted to a coop!
Love these forums!!!
Shelley in PA

 

[MattalynsBarn]

I think they start working on the pecking order on day 1, but it's not fully established until week 6(?) I posted this message https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=364451&p=1 a while back and here's what might answer your question: gritsar said: "Rest assured that they do all this nonsense and end up just fine. They start working on the pecking order from day one in the brooder together. By six to eight weeks they should have a fully functioning pecking order going on."

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
Yep, pecking order begins in the brooder on day one and is up and working fine by 6 to 8 weeks. The pullets will have their own pecking order, which the cockerels are part of (at the top, once they mature). In addition the cockerels will have a second, totally seperate pecking order amongst themselves.