Pecking order

[Dry Creek Chickens]

About what age do chicks start with their pecking order?

Thanks.

 

[sourland]

About the time they come out of the incubator. Their activity may be subtle but is geared towards developing their social structure. It may start with a peck here and there and then gradually progress to hackle flaring and play fighting.

 

[Dry Creek Chickens]

Alrighty then. They do not waste time.

 

[Unswydd]

About the time they come out of the incubator. Their activity may be subtle but is geared towards developing their social structure. It may start with a peck here and there and then gradually progress to hackle flaring and play fighting.

Interesting. My girls are 9 weeks old and no clear pecking order as of yet. They all appear to get along quite well with no real established order. I find that strange.

 

[Ryguy3684]

My flock is 8 weeks. They just started really ramping up last week. A few already seem to have resigned to a low ranking, and don't mess around much. Two of my ten are duking it out for top hen. They step up to all but the one I suspect is a rooster. Nobody is messing with him.

 

[CreveChris]

My cockerels get along fine at 4.5 months in the coop and tractor, but supervised free range time finds Michele challenging Cati (top roo). Should I worry about my otherwise gentle Crèvecœurs?

 

[TARDIS37379]

It begins the first time they eat

 

[Thechicksdigme]

I would say it starts early on and becomes more noticeable as they get older.