Pecking order

[Cragg Klefor]

Mostly curiosity. I’m very interested in the hierarchy and knowing where my little feathered friends are in their order

Ahh right. I like to know also. I was wondering were you having a bullying prob or what. Thanks for replying

 

[aart]

I thought I had an idea who was at the too/bottom/middle etc but things seems to switch up all the time. I’d just like to know whos on top these days

They do switch up...you'd have to watch a lot everyday to tell.
But spending and hour or so in the coop at roosting time might give you the best idea.
How old are your birds and do you have any males?

 

[Mrs. K]

I agree, I have watched for years. And what the pecking order is today, might not be this afternoon. Even where they roost, there will be one or two that generally roost on the same side, but not exactly the same place.

It just depends.

Mrs K

 

[aurajean515]

Ahh right. I like to know also. I was wondering were you having a bullying prob or what. Thanks for replying

No bullying problems really. My girls all get along for the most part. I’ve recently introduced 2 new hens and one of them started a fight with my B.O., another hen ran to her rescue and chased the new girl off. Other than that, I have a few moody girls who don’t like other hens up in their business, they give a quick peck and thats that. I have a lot of room in my coop as well as all day free ranging, so if anyones not getting along they can just move away from one another.

 

[aurajean515]

They do switch up...you'd have to watch a lot everyday to tell.
But spending and hour or so in the coop at roosting time might give you the best idea.
How old are your birds and do you have any males?

The age ranges, I have some that are old as 3 and some that are as young as 3 months. I have three boys, two of which are 2 and the 3rd is about 6 or 7 months.
I also have spent a lot of time watching my birds at roosting time. I’m wondering if theres a better way to set up roosts that would make the pecking order more obvious, as my roosts are all spread a part in two seperate areas of the coop.

 

[Mrs. K]

Actually Aurajean - I don't think you want the pecking order obvious. An obvious pecking order is not a good sign, it indicates tension in the flock, which is usually due to over crowding.

The best flock is a peaceful flock, it is in harmony and it is very difficult to tell the current pecking order. That flock is going to lay more eggs, have less illness and injuries, and tend to thrive.

Generally young is lower than old, non laying is lower to laying. Roosters are dominant to hens.

Mrs K

 

[FnWeirdo]

pecking order is more complex then i first guessed, after reading i was thinking it'd be a straight forward thing. after observation this last year i have came to the conclusion that flocks have a complex social structure that reminds me of a human high school .
so here is some of my amateur observations.
( i have 13 chickens 5 new hampshire reds, 3 black australorps, 4 cochin standards, and 1 ameraucana roo) all groups different ages

first off the pecking order is ever changing anything can set off a need to organize a new order. 1 of the order might change or all of the order or none. changing a roost in the coop, addition of new chickens, new toy, ect ect can all set it off

second, the pecking order consists of smaller pecking orders. in other words chickens have an individual order and they also have a group order . for example my reds and my ameraucana are the top bird group, then its my round cochin roo w/ 1 other cochin and my 2 australorp hens, 3rd group is my australorp rooster and my other cochins.
even though my reds group is the top group and has the top chicken individually in it one of my reds is at the absolute bottom of the pecking order, this means the other chickens will act dominant towards her unless one of the other higher ranking reds interferes.
my bottom group is led by my australorp rooster which ranks very high in the order so the reds won't mess with his group unless they are out of line, but if one would my australorp would stop it right away if he's around.

it is really fun to observe the social structures of these animals and i imagine it gets even more interesting the more you have

 

[aurajean515]

Actually Aurajean - I don't think you want the pecking order obvious. An obvious pecking order is not a good sign, it indicates tension in the flock, which is usually due to over crowding.

The best flock is a peaceful flock, it is in harmony and it is very difficult to tell the current pecking order. That flock is going to lay more eggs, have less illness and injuries, and tend to thrive.

Generally young is lower than old, non laying is lower to laying. Roosters are dominant to hens.

Mrs K

Interesting. Then I suppose my flock is doing great considering how peaceful everyone is with one another! Thank you for the insight