What is the Pecking Order in Chickens?
Raising chickens can be an exciting learning experience. While you might think they are entirely idyllic and spend their days peacefully wandering through the pasture, they have a more severe side that allows them to have a strong societal structure.
The pecking order in chickens establishes a top bird for the flock. This bird will be the one that gets to eat and drink first, has the choice of sleeping spots, and leads the morning crowing. It will also be the protector of the flock, signaling when there is danger.
You should read on to learn more about the pecking order and how it is established. I will also discuss problems that can occur with the pecking order, how to reset the pecking order, and how to avoid problems with the pecking order.
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How Can You Tell Which Chicken is Dominant?
The top chicken in your flock will have dominant characteristics. You will notice that it will be the first at many activities. You can distinguish the top chicken from the rest by the following:
First to eat
First to drink
Takes the favored roost
Typically the strongest
Mates with the favored hen (if it’s a rooster)
Crows first in the morning
Here’s a video you can watch to understand why pecking order exists in chickens:
What is the Pecking Order in Chickens?
Pecking order is used to determine which chicken will be allowed to eat and drink first, have access to the best roosting spots, and have the first pick of the dust-bathing areas. The pecking order is determined early on when the chickens are all raised together, the pecking order is determined early on.
The chicken who wins the top place has a vital role instead of just being the boss. This chicken is typically more robust and healthier than the rest of the flock and uses these traits to its advantage when protecting others.
The top chicken will always be vigilant to alert the rest of the flock to any dangers, such as a hawk flying overhead or rustling in the bushes. Additionally, it is expected that this chicken will be a food finder, sniffing out tasty morsels from various sources.
While the top chicken has earned the right to eat first, it typically will sit back and let the rest of the flock eat first while keeping an eye out for predators. Only after everyone else has eaten will the top chicken dine.
Typically in a flock with a rooster present, the rooster will become the top chicken in the pecking order. A hen will step up and become the top chicken in flocks of all hens.
It is a best practice to have one rooster for every 10 to 12 hens. Flocks with less than six hens should not have any roosters at all. This keeps roosters from fighting unnecessarily amongst themselves.
The pecking order starts around the third day of a chick’s life. Initially, it begins with jostling and pecking over positioning at the feeding area. By day 16, the chicks are feather pecking for dominance.
This bickering will continue for approximately ten weeks in female-only flocks. Expect it to last longer in flocks with males. After the birds establish their pecking order, they will live in harmony until something occurs to disrupt the order.
When you need to introduce more birds to the flock, there are several things you can do to ensure it’s a smooth transition. First, don’t introduce just one bird at a time, as this bird can easily be overwhelmed by the flock.
Second, introduce the new birds as young as possible as they are more deferential. Third, introduce new chickens at night, as this is less likely to induce a fight.
What Are Some Problems Related to Pecking Order in Chickens?
While the chickens in a flock can live in harmony once the pecking order is established, there can also be severe problems. Chickens have been known to attack one another, causing serious injury and even death.
The senior members can become violent when adding new members to the flock. This can result in injury for the new birds. The best solution is to never add a single bird to the flock – always add at least two birds at a time.
Consider using a separation pen where the birds can interact but cannot touch. This will give them time to get used to the idea of each other, and when they are finally facing one another, they may not react as violently.
You will also need to ensure the new birds have a place to run to if the current flock members get overwhelmingly violent. Additionally, do not intervene unless blood is drawn. If this happens, you will need to quickly remove and isolate the bird.
Another problem with the pecking order is having a sick or injured bird. The flock will respond to attack the bird until it either flees or is killed. This action is a defense mechanism to protect the flock since it is only as strong as its weakest member.
You will need to remove the affected bird and identify what is wrong with it. Treat its injuries or illness while keeping it isolated from the rest of the flock. Once it has recovered, you need to reintegrate the chicken with its flock.
Occasionally, you will have a problem with a chicken that is a bully. A mid-level chicken often makes it a point to get in the other chickens’ faces. Despite its position, it will fight over the feeding area, taking ownership of the available nutrients.
You will have to curb this behavior, which can be done using the separation pen. When you reintroduce her to the flock, she will no longer be in the same position she was in and will have to reassert herself.
How Do You Reset a Pecking Order?
If you have a problem with your current pecking order, you can easily reset it as needed. Sometimes, mean chickens will take the top spot in the roost, bullying the other chickens around. There are three easy steps to follow.
First, remove the bullies from the flock and place them in a separate location. Provide them with everything they need, like a comfortable place to sleep, food, and water. Ensure they have no contact with the other birds.
Second, keep the bully birds isolated for at least three days. While they are locked away, you’ll see something interesting happen with the rest of the flock. They will reset their pecking order, and most of the time, they choose a leader from the bottom of the totem pole.
Finally, reintroduce the bully birds. At this point, they’ll be new birds again and have to reestablish a place among the flock. Typically, the new leader is nicer with the reset, and the old way does not reestablish itself.
If things go south again for any reason, you can repeat these steps with the chickens causing the problem. However, things should stay quiet and calm following any reset on the pecking order you provide.
How Does the Pecking Order Establish Itself?
The pecking order begins establishing itself when the chickens are very young. They will charge one another, chase their brooder mates, and peck at the more petite chicks. Eventually, this turns into more serious pecking until the natural order of the flock is defined.
There are apparent differences between the sizes of groups and gender. Smaller groups typically have their pecking orders sorted out by eight weeks after hatching. Female chicks will be sorted out in ten weeks, while male chicks will take longer.
If you have a new group of adults, they will establish a pecking order quickly in just a few days. They typically do not have any problems following the initial skirmishes unless there are major changes to their environment.
Introducing a group of chicks to an established group of adults must be done with great care. The dominant older birds will consider it an intrusion and be very rough with the younger birds. It can result in severe injury or death of the chicks.
The chicks should be large enough to handle themselves against the older birds. While they are growing, keep them near the older chickens so they can see and smell each other but not physically touch. This will give them time to get used to one another.
Once the chicks have grown enough, slip them into the flock when they have gone to roost for the night. The older birds will be less likely to cause a fight at night or notice the new birds in the morning.
Males tend to be the dominant gender in the pecking order. Older chickens tend to be higher on the totem pole; however, this will change with time as they become unable to hold onto their position due to age taking its toll.
Comb size also affects positioning in the pecking order. In most cases, the larger the comb, the higher the position. Heavier body weight tends to correlate with more strength and a higher position. Illness or weakness will lead to a chicken being at the bottom of the order.
How Do I Prevent Pecking Order Issues?
Bullying is a serious pecking order issue and can be caused by conditions you have complete control over. By maintaining your birds’ environment, you can prevent many pecking order issues.
Limit Overcrowding
Overcrowding is the most common cause of problems in the pecking order. It will have the top chickens attacking the bottom chickens to prevent them from taking valuable resources.
Make the Coop More Comfortable
You must ensure that your chickens have enough feed, water, and roosting spots to accommodate everyone. You also want to provide places for the weaker chickens to flee when things turn for the worse.
Overheating is another problem as it will agitate all the birds. They will peck at each other to relieve their frustrations. Always ensure they have enough cool, fresh water and adequate ventilation in their living space.
Too much light can also aggravate the chickens and cause them to peck each other. It’s best to have them live by natural lighting.
Upgrade Nutrition
You need to ensure that you are providing the correct nutrition as well. Any nutritional deficiencies can lead to pecking at feathers. Additionally, a lack of salt and other nutrients will cause pecking at the preen gland in other chickens.
Watch for Injuries
If a chicken is injured or sick and cannot respond to pecking, the other birds will be even more interested in the behavior. This activity can result in severe damage to the already injured bird. Any wounded or sick chickens will need to be removed immediately from the flock.
Keep Tabs on Things
Flock size should not be allowed to grow too large. Whenever it reaches more than 30 birds, it can become confusing about who stands where in the hierarchy. This confusion causes stress, leading to the birds lashing out at one another.
You also need to provide enough nesting boxes for all of your hens. At least one for every three hens is sufficient. If there is not enough space for all of the hens to nest, they will bicker and peck each other.
Final Thoughts
Chickens are a very social species - and this a species that has a very particular structure. They will have skirmishes until a top chicken is established. Once these battles are over, the chickens will live in relative harmony unless something changes to cause an upset.
The pecking order in chickens is established at a young age, beginning when the birds are just days old. They will finish determining who is in charge after a slightly longer period. Female flocks will take up to ten weeks to establish dominance and males longer.
You will need to let the pecking order establish itself with minimal intervention - just keep good records. The only time you should step in is when the chickens cause injury to one of the members of the flock. You will need to remove this bird immediately to prevent future problems.
Want to learn more about raising chickens? Be sure to check out these articles!
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