Pecking order: how to tell who is winning the skirmishes?

[thepick4uchicks]

My girls (9 weeks old) do this when free ranging. I found that in the coop and run the pecking order is well established however, when they are out of the coop it's turns into wacky races and ninja chicken wars (my daughters term), they puff up and charge at each other. There's no aggression but they seem to establishing a different hierarchy. It's hilarious to watch tiny little Flora have a run at the much bigger girls. They all seem to do it and it's causes no unrest. Once back in the run, it all goes back to normal.
It's deffo normal behaviour as long as no one is getting unduly pecked at.

Mine usually love one another and don’t fight too much at all just do the running and chest out thing too with the wings flapping but no flapping. The same bird my lead hen did the same put down to one of my Black Orpingtons about two weeks prior to this other incident with me getting my biting deal occurred when one of them butted in ahead of her at the feed bowls and she didn’t like it. They like to run ahead of everyone because they love to hog the food and she road that one to the ground then also for that bad behavior as well and I haven’t seen one of them amongst the three pull any kind of stunt anyway close to that sense. They have learned their place quick because she got their attention that day. It was a show of who is boss on a big display for all to see as well.

 

[thepick4uchicks]

Oh I will add that my Queen is not only the first in the coop and she is the last out also and then she will stand at the door with me and survey the situation to see what is going on and watch me finish tidying up the coop and run for them before she goes to eat and then she lets me pet her and check her over and she gets satisfied that all is well with my attention to the waterer to her satisfaction then she may or may not start eating just depends. She just has to check the run out and make sure the world is to her liking for the morning first.

 

[Nicsbackyardchicks]

Mine usually love one another and don’t fight too much at all just do the running and chest out thing too with the wings flapping but no flapping. The same bird my lead hen did the same put down to one of my Black Orpingtons about two weeks prior to this other incident with me getting my biting deal occurred when one of them butted in ahead of her at the feed bowls and she didn’t like it. They like to run ahead of everyone because they love to hog the food and she road that one to the ground then also for that bad behavior as well and I haven’t seen one of them amongst the three pull any kind of stunt anyway close to that sense. They have learned their place quick because she got their attention that day. It was a show of who is boss on a big display for all to see as well.

I witnessed tonight the little silkie grab the feathers of the head hen because she stole food from her mouth. She was not impressed. I was worried about Flora as she's so small in comparison but tonight she was having no messing about. Xx