Pecking order, how does it work?

[Fitchicken]

OK, as you can see I'm a real newbie lol! So I had one of my chicks quarantined, and I just brought her back to the flock, she's only been gone a few days but her friends are picking on her! They keep biting her face, she is fighting back. Do I need to separate them? Or is this normal pecking order activity?

 

[Abriana]

Not normal. Chickens need to be properly integrated, the new bird should be in a run for a week or two to allow the others to get used to her and accept her when she comes out. Normal pecking is just to establish pecking order, not to hurt.
The pecking order works like this: there is one hen on the top, and she can peck all the hens, she is basically the queen, then there is another hen below her that can peck everyone but the top one, and so forth. Sometimes though, the pecking order is weird and a top hen will be below the bottom hen but still on top. I guess humans will never properly understand how it all works, but this is my opinion. Good luck!

 

[Fitchicken]

Not normal. Chickens need to be properly integrated, the new bird should be in a run for a week or two to allow the others to get used to her and accept her when she comes out. Normal pecking is just to establish pecking order, not to hurt.
The pecking order works like this: there is one hen on the top, and she can peck all the hens, she is basically the queen, then there is another hen below her that can peck everyone but the top one, and so forth. Sometimes though, the pecking order is weird and a top hen will be below the bottom hen but still on top. I guess humans will never properly understand how it all works, but this is my opinion. Good luck!

But they've known her for a while now, like a month, I took her out for 3 days,Would they seriously treat her like a stranger after such a short of time?

 

[Abriana]

Yes, they could. It is important to let them at least see her so they don't forget about her. I would stick her in a run for a week or so inside the pen to help reintegrate.

 

[Fitchicken]

Yes, they could. It is important to let them at least see her so they don't forget about her. I would stick her in a run for a week or so inside the pen to help reintegrate.

Ok, Thanks so much. I have her in a big cage in coop so the others can see her but not touch her.

 

[Abriana]

Ok, Thanks so much. I have her in a big cage in coop so the others can see her but not touch her.

Good! Glad to help!

 

[FlyWheel]

<Snip!>
The pecking order works like this: there is one hen on the top, and she can peck all the hens, she is basically the queen, then there is another hen below her that can peck everyone but the top one, and so forth. Sometimes though, the pecking order is weird and a top hen will be below the bottom hen but still on top. I guess humans will never properly understand how it all works, but this is my opinion. Good luck!

I can't imagine why not, we use the same system (without the beaks). A major can yell any cuss words he wants at a captain but had better limit himself to "Yes, sir" when speaking to a colonel!

 

[barred2rock]

I can't imagine why not, we use the same system (without the beaks). A major can yell any cuss words he wants at a captain but had better limit himself to "Yes, sir" when speaking to a colonel!

I just tell them all to go F themselves! Maybe I'm at the head of the pecking order.

 

[Abriana]

Threads are supposed to be kept clean of bad language, just thought I'd let you know before staff does, and sometimes they delete posts. Just thougnt I'd say something, no harm done!

 

[barred2rock]

Threads are supposed to be kept clean of bad language, just thought I'd let you know before staff does, and sometimes they delete posts. Just thougnt I'd say something, no harm done!

"F" is bad language? What a Q!