Topic of the Week - Chicken behaviour and flock dynamics - Part 1 - The pecking order

[sumi]

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For chickens, the pecking order is an important part of the flock dynamics and a way for the flock to establish and maintain order and look after the stronger members, while pushing out the weaker ones. Human flock owners are often included in this order, especially when there are roosters in the flock and that can throw up some interesting challenges for especially new or inexperienced chicken owners.

This week I would like to hear your thoughts and experiences with handling this interesting part of chicken keeping.

Pic by @venetianblinds​

For a complete list of our Topic of the Week threads, see here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/topic-of-the-week-thread-archive

 

[N F C]

To me, watching the flock dynamics is one of the most interesting parts of keeping chickens. They can be ruthless in their vying for top spot!

Settling down for the night was always something to see. In my old coop, there was one roosting bar that went around the interior on 2 sides. Even though the bar was all the same height, they'd squabble for whatever was the "best" spot for the night. I thought having the roosting bar the same height all way around, would solve the "who's on top" argument, but those chickens proved me wrong.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Flock dynamics are indeed interesting. For fun, I have been known to toss a coveted treat out into the middle of the yard on a hot summer day and watch while sipping a coke. The chicken rugby, keep away, that ensues is better than any Sunday football.

As to actual pecking order settlement (rather than a bit of running over a treat they all can share equally), I have generally seen the hardest fighters to be at the bottom of the pecking order as a new member came into the flock. They were determined to not be usurped and pushed further down the chain.

But having a good rooster definitely eases flock tensions and helps tremendously with integrating new pullets. My poor Barney gets a work out when a new member comes in, or worse, the young pullets come into lay and squabbles start over nest boxes (and yes, they have enough boxes, with plenty of room, salted with fake eggs...there is always one GOLDEN box they simply must get).

Having a good rooster and broody hens also helps with flock integration tremendously. When momma comes out of the nursery with her little fluffs in tow, my wonderful roo is immediately at her side shooing away overly nosy hens and preventing squabbles. He keeps a close eye on my girls. The babes grow within the flock seamlessly integrating as they grow.

Without a rooster, it is indeed a scramble until one of the hens takes top spot. She often can be rather bossy and prevents others joining the flock....like the new pullets....who tend to stay in a subflock, even months later.

But a good rooster is eager to increase his harem, so does his little dance, calms disputes, and soon the pullets are fully integrated.

Flock dynamics are very interesting to watch with aerial predators. I often don't see the hawk until afterwards, but my Barney has alerted the girls who dive for cover. Those that are further out in forage carefully zig back to Barney. They literally look like soldiers running across a battle field in zig zag, dive, hide, run.

And my broodies, flying off the nest with screeches for diversion is hysterical (and that's without hawks). Brooding hens are a whole new dimension. Watching momma teach her chicks to scratch and hunt, then settling in to warm them (with all the little heads poking out here and there). I nearly died of laughter one day as a momma decided she needed to move the whole brood over to another spot. She "lifted her skirts" and I saw this little cavalcade of feet shuffling beneath her as she maneuvered the whole gang to a better location.

I have my computer/library room, which has lots of windows, facing the chicken yard. I've spent more than one morning enjoying a cup of coffee watching the bird show outside.

LofMc

 

[aart]

The RoostTimeRumble is always amusing...once you understand it.
Removing excess males(or problem females) is amazing as an instantaneous bringer of calm.
Some chickens are just batcrap crazy....and can be vicious.
Some birds will just never fit well into the flock and should be permanently removed.

Biggest challenge for newbs is learning how chicken hierarchy works,
and not comparing it to human behaviors....and realizing that space is of utmost importance when dealing with pecking order issues. The more space they have the easier they will settle out the pecking order.

 

[chickens really]

This is a great topic....
So many variables as to pecking order or aggression in Chickens...
Pecking order is natural in a Flock of Birds...First I will stick to pecking order...Age of Birds in the Flock is important then sex of the birds...
I will discuss my Flock in a nutshell...
I have a Huge Brahma/Ameruacana Rooster and 4 Orpington Hens, 1 silkie cross Hen and 2 young Pullets..
My pecking order is very subtle and everyone gets along..My One Blue Orpington Hen is a bit more Bossy and gets to the feed first as the others wait their turn. I have a Buff also and she is second in line...My Rooster runs a tight ship and if squabbles happen he chases the problem Hen off..My Slikie hangs around the Rooster as he Tidbits to them or she is with her young pullet that was hatched in July...The other Pullet that was hatched in April hangs around her Mother..No real issues here...
I think sometimes people get confused with pecking order and aggression amongst Chickens..Chickens are Flock Birds and fighting, pecking and feather eating is not common in healthy flocks..If Chickens have balanced nutrition, enough space and entertained...Pecking order should be subtle...Too many Roosters can upset a flocks dynamics..I raised Chicks in July again under my Silkie 3 were Cockerels and the one Pullet..The Cockerels are gone although as they were maturing my Rooster was not taking their young Cock fights too well..He would beat them up when they got out of line...The minute they were gone my flock was fantastic again...

 

[azygous]

The key to understanding flock dynamics or the social order of a flock, often referred to as the pecking order, is to grasp the fact that each individual in a flock has the task of relating to each other individual in the flock.

Some folks who have small flocks marvel that their chickens all seem to get along with few if any conflicts. One of the things that makes such peace and tranquility possible is the relative low number of individuals that each member is required to adjust their own temperaments to.

Another factor that contributes to peace in a flock is space. As in Mary's flock, even though she has a relatively high number, they get along well probably because they free range and this relieves the stress of numbers.

Then there are other factors such as breed and individual temperament that contribute to conflict or peace in a flock. One can make a blanket prediction that a mixed flock of RIRs and Cochins, opposite in general temperament, confined in large numbers won't be conducive to a peaceful flock. On the other hand, a flock of two Brhamas and two Cochins will probably be a predictably conflict-free flock, even in confinement due to the placid temperament of these breeds.

Understanding how it is that each chicken in a flock has a relationship with each other individual, you will be prepared for the disruption that introducing new chickens into a flock can cause. Even though a flock has been peaceful up to that point, the appearance of new chickens can upset the whole balance since everyone now needs to relate, not only to the new members, but to each existing member in a different way.

Everyone says chickens are fun to watch, but not that many say that flock keeping is easy.

 

[andreanar]

Watching the pecking order dynamics is fascinating to me. But confusing as well. I always wonder why the "top" hen feels the need to peck at the "lowest" hen. The order has been established, the lowest girl knows she's the lowest and respects that. Am I missing some kind of challenge from the lowest girl?

 

[Folly's place]

Having enough space, and places where birds can go to avoid each other, really helps to keep the peace. Right now I have three roosters, two cockerels, and thirty-eight hens and pullets, both standards and bantams. They have been raised together over the years, and all get along well. Most days they can free range, and then they separate into three groups, heading in different directions.
Watching them is totally entertaining!
In spring, the newly adult cockerels may not get along with the older cocks, and then some may move on. I don't ever keep human aggressive birds, or any that disrupt the group. No feather picking or just nasty hens either!
Long ago I gave up on production reds; too nasty in the flock!
No Silkies either, or Favorelles, as they are too mild mannered in the mixed group.
The young birds gradually move into the flock; first they learn to be polite and get out of the way of the adults, then over the months, they integrate into the group.
Chicks hatched and raised together tend to be 'family', sometimes for life, regardless of breed.
Mary

 

[Chickassan]

Flock dynamics here are beyond unusual right now. I've got three mixed breed girls just over a year old going through their first molt and not having any drama whatsoever. I added two faverolles pullets and a faverolles cockrel this year, those guys integrated pretty easily and the cockrel replaced a defective roo i got with my first girls. Everything was going fine, pecking order reshuffled faverolles on bottom cockrel on top absolutely perfect! Until...my husband brought a dominique pullet home and she totally flipped the pecking order off. Now she's top hen,barely below the cockrel. She spreads terror wherever she goes, gets the best food, has to have a privacy curtain to roost or she'd peck everyone senseless. The strange thing is she's no older than my faverolles 7 months and she's the smallest. Pecking orders don't always make sense apparently, i can't figure mine out to save my life!

 

[igorsMistress]

I have only intervened in flock dynamics because we had a rooster that was rough on the girls and human aggressive as well. He's no longer in my flock.
I always make sure there are a few feed and water options throughout the yard and when I throw out treats they're spread far and wide.
I have two girls that squabble over their favorite spot at roost time but I let them figure it out. It never amounts to more than a few pecks.
My coop is ample with plenty of roost space. My flock has the entire yard to roam all day and lots of bushes and trees so they don't have to share.