Question about pecking order

[elmo]

I was sitting out in the back yard late last afternoon watching our small flock of five bantams free ranging, and I got to wondering about pecking order and the influence of the flock's rooster on it.

I suspect our rooster, Beaky, prefers one of the hens, Billina. Now Billina was getting picked on by Martha a few weeks ago, but I noticed Beaky intervening on her behalf. He seemed to be telling Martha to knock it off. Now I don't see Martha challenging Billina any more.

What I'm wondering is when a rooster picks a hen as his favorite, does that elevate her to the top of the hen pecking order?

 

[Happy Chooks]

Hmmm, good question. I don't have a rooster, so I have no clue.

I'll be watching for replies.

 

[HorseFeathers]

Quote:
Probably. We don't have a rooster, but our lead hen hatched chicks and nobody was bothering her babies... she made sure of that!