Do chickens (like dogs consider its owner the alpha dog for example) consider humans to be at the top of the pecking order? Yesterday, I was checking my birds for mites and putting some DE on them. Two of the hens are fine with us petting them and picking them up, the third one not so much. So, when I went to check her, she ran, then I caught her but only after she jumped in the dirt bath bucket causing a bit of a ruckus. She was fine when I was holding her and then I set her down. Immediately upon setting her down the other two hens ran up to her and gave her a few good pecks and little chase. We've always figured she was likely the one on the bottom of the pecking order, but hadn't seen any real pecking yet. Could the behavior been because she caused such a fuss before I (the 'Mama Hen') picked her up, or am I over complicating the mind of a simple bird?
If I pay attention to one of my girls too long a few of the others will do the pecking thing, but it never happens when I'm petting Gracie my top girl. It could be a little jealousy, pecking order thingy going I wouldn't worry unless it's the same girl always getting picked on and it turns mean.
