Pecking order importance

[Chickiepoo87]

Just curious how significant the pecking order is for them?! What happens if they don’t have it? is it only established by roosting?

 

[Chickassan]

Pretty important, it decides who eats first, who gets the best roosting spots. To a certain extent it even decides who is closest to the rooster.
They will always have a pecking order, a single bird will incorporate their keeper if that is the only option. It is not established by roosting but by vocalizations, glances and pecking lol!

 

[Keeperofmunchkins]

The pecking order is the name for the hierarchy of dominance in a flock because it is often literally established and maintained by the higher birds pecking those 'beneath' them. There is always a hierarchy even among siblings who may seem to be best friends and inseparable. The pecking order is not fixed forever though as it changes with new birds being added, existing birds dying/being rehomed,birds getting older etc. Sometimes a chicken will get fed up of their place and challenge their superior and win the fight, thereby gaining a new 'rank' (this can be seen with younger pullets and cockerels as they mature) . The pecking order can even be upset/changed by a bird being removed for a couple of weeks to recuperate from illness or injury. It is established from the first interaction between two chickens and maintained with every interaction thereafter.

 

[Mrs. K]

Actually, if you have a couple of feed stations, more than one water spot, and enough space with hideouts and multilevel perches, the pecking order really is not that big of deal. And those are really the only way people can influence the effect of pecking order.

Most pecking order problems can be solved by reducing the number of birds in the set up. When a person becomes aware of a pecking order problem, it is because the number of birds do not fit in the set up. Or what was enough space when the birds were chick is no longer enough space, when the birds are full grown.

What happens if they don't have it?
They do have it, but it is not noticeable and that is a good sign that you do have enough room.

Mrs K

 

[Chickiepoo87]

Thank you everyone!!

 

[aart]

What happens if they don't have it?
They do have it, but it is not noticeable and that is a good sign that you do have enough room.

Ditto Dat^^^

 

[JerryR708]

I have 3 hens, a RIR, EE and a BSL. They are going on 3 years this summer. I have never seen any display of pecking order or aggression between them. They share food and preen each others feathers. They even notify each other of treats and call to encourage their companions to dig in with them. They love each other like no other flock. I have never seen anything like it. I could never separate them from each other.

 

[centrarchid]

Pecking order in small social groups with lots of room are is easy to see but not a major factor when resources are sufficient. When the birds are confined like we typically do using coops or where some resource like food or roosting space is limiting, then pecking order can be more consequential. Then you have health issues and / or wounding. My ideal is for social groups to have a pecking order that is not always being demonstrated even when present.