What is good head hen behavior?

[3KillerBs]

She bites the others and causes them to shriek. They all try to avoid her. She will reach out and bite them as they walk by, sometimes she holds on. All of my leghorns have their combs pecked, but I’m not positive it’s her doing that. One time she even bit me and twisted my skin. Is this normal pecking order behavior? Or is she just a mean girl on a power trip?

Interesting.

In my flock I've found that the roughest behavior occurs at the bottom end of the pecking order.

I'm honestly not sure who is currently head hen, but when the flock was smaller and didn't have so many girls who look alike, Dumpling (the Light Brahma), always got the food she wanted, but my big French Cuckoo Marans girls got the roost space they wanted, and nobody but nobody messed with the California White despite Chipotle being half the size of the others.

One of the reasons, I think, that I can't tell who is head hen now is that I had a mature rooster (now sold), and have a mature cockerel (11 months), in charge of the flock and keeping good order.

I would think that persistent aggression like you're describing could indeed go beyond ordinary pecking order stuff but I don't have any direct experience with bullying to really evaluate it.

 

[Ridgerunner]

What makes a good head hen?

To me, a lot of that depends on your flock make-up. Age can be an important part of that as can having or not having a mature rooster.

Right now you don't have a mature flock. You have an immature flock in transition. Some of the girls are transitioning from immature pullets to them start acting like hens. That transition can be disruptive to the pecking order. It sounds like that pullet is trying to establish and maintain a dominant position in the pecking order. She sees a lot of potential threats as the other pullets mature.

Your cockerel is not yet a mature rooster. That pullet can and is dominating him. At some point he will mature to the point that he will stand up to her and take over. I don't know what that will look like when he does, that may be fairly peaceful or it could get violent. Some of that depends on his personality and some depends on the dominant pullet's personality.

I've never has one take 18 months to do that but we all have different experiences. I generally trust @Shadrach but we manage our chickens differently so we get different experiences. I had one cockerel able to take over peacefully at 5 months, even with mature hens in the flock. Most of mine can take over by 7 months and that's usually pretty peacefully as far as the dominant hen goes. I find the personality of the dominant hen has a lot to do with how peaceful it is. The latest I had one go was 11 months and that one was not peaceful.

I don't know how your specific flock will work this out. I try to solve for the peace of the flock but I also try to let them grow up to see how they behave as adults. There can be a world of difference in how immature pullets and cockerels behave when compared to mature hens and roosters. Sometimes watching that transition can be tough. As long as no one is getting injured I give mine a chance.

 

[Lainey-chick]

To me, a lot of that depends on your flock make-up. Age can be an important part of that as can having or not having a mature rooster.

Right now you don't have a mature flock. You have an immature flock in transition. Some of the girls are transitioning from immature pullets to them start acting like hens. That transition can be disruptive to the pecking order. It sounds like that pullet is trying to establish and maintain a dominant position in the pecking order. She sees a lot of potential threats as the other pullets mature.

Your cockerel is not yet a mature rooster. That pullet can and is dominating him. At some point he will mature to the point that he will stand up to her and take over. I don't know what that will look like when he does, that may be fairly peaceful or it could get violent. Some of that depends on his personality and some depends on the dominant pullet's personality.

I've never has one take 18 months to do that but we all have different experiences. I generally trust @Shadrach but we manage our chickens differently so we get different experiences. I had one cockerel able to take over peacefully at 5 months, even with mature hens in the flock. Most of mine can take over by 7 months and that's usually pretty peacefully as far as the dominant hen goes. I find the personality of the dominant hen has a lot to do with how peaceful it is. The latest I had one go was 11 months and that one was not peaceful.

I don't know how your specific flock will work this out. I try to solve for the peace of the flock but I also try to let them grow up to see how they behave as adults. There can be a world of difference in how immature pullets and cockerels behave when compared to mature hens and roosters. Sometimes watching that transition can be tough. As long as no one is getting injured I give mine a chance.

Thank you! It is stressful to watch.

 

[WIchickMama]

My head hen makes sure she's the first - the first out of the run, the first to the food, the first in the favorite nest box. At the feeder, she chases off those lower on the pecking order at first, but then allows them near once she's decided she's had her fill. She stands up to the rooster if he gives me the stink eye. She will also run him off if he gets too close. Her feathers are PERFECT because she's never been mated - lol! However, if he tidbits, everyone stands back so she can have first dibs. She leaves broody mamas alone and is quick to remind everyone she's in charge. Even the big ol' ducks. But she doesn't  hurt anyone. Just a quick peck. In short, she's a badass, and EVERYONE knows it.
View attachment 3239466

I got one like this too, and she is a Barred Rock----rockstars for sure!

 

[Lainey-chick]

My message for my Goldie :

 

[rosemarythyme]

To me a good head hen stays on top without the need to bully the others. Others move out of the way for her without a squeak. She tolerates lower ranked birds eating beside her, IF she allows them to - mine will allow chicks to eat beside her for a few minutes before she reminds them of their place. If another bird challenges her, she puts an end to their protest quickly, and doesn't need to chase them down and attack them afterwards - mine usually only needs to land one hit to get the other to back down and run away.

 

[Lainey-chick]

To me a good head hen stays on top without the need to bully the others. Others move out of the way for her without a squeak. She tolerates lower ranked birds eating beside her, IF she allows them to - mine will allow chicks to eat beside her for a few minutes before she reminds them of their place. If another bird challenges her, she puts an end to their protest quickly, and doesn't need to chase them down and attack them afterwards - mine usually only needs to land one hit to get the other to back down and run away.

Thanks, this was helpful! I am hoping she settles down a bit as she gets older.

 

[Thatscluckinggreat]

To me a good head hen stays on top without the need to bully the others. Others move out of the way for her without a squeak. She tolerates lower ranked birds eating beside her, IF she allows them to - mine will allow chicks to eat beside her for a few minutes before she reminds them of their place. If another bird challenges her, she puts an end to their protest quickly, and doesn't need to chase them down and attack them afterwards - mine usually only needs to land one hit to get the other to back down and run away.

My current and last head hen fit this mold. Calm, smooth, and confident but willing to check anyone who gets too rowdy close to her. My second in order is a little more aggressive but still not mean. My 3rd is the mean girl! She bullies everybody under her (20 birds). She doesn't even think of looking at the top 2 hens or the head Roo in an aggressive manner though. It never goes too far because everyone knows she's a B and they give her a wide berth. I supply plenty of room to move out of her way. Even if your bird doesn't chill with age, as long as nobody is getting injured, you should be ok. Plenty of space is key at that point.

 

[saysfaa]

...She bites the others and causes them to shriek. They all try to avoid her. She will reach out and bite them as they walk by...

Can they avoid her?

Constant reinforcement of the fact that everyone else in the flock is subordinate - by whatever means and to whatever degree is necessary.

This.

If she isn't confident of her position, she will read any instance of not acknowledging their subordinance (like walking too close to her) as a challenge to her position. Or at least read the situation as needing to up the level of reinforcement. She won't allow for whether it is possible for them to avoid her.

 

[Idaho Chicken Bungalow]

I have seen my original 4 take turns over the past 15 months. The first being Mean Charolotte. Poppy does it too and Charolotte will back down. Crazy as this sounds the original ladies have settled in and my 12-month-old Dark Brahmas are quite mean to my 10 week olds at the feeder. I just watched the littles scram when Dark Brahma Darcy come up to the feeder. It is most interesting to watch.