Understanding the Pecking Order


If you intend to have more than a single chicken, you are going to need to know a little bit about the “pecking order” and how it works. So what is a pecking order anyway? It is a hierarchical pattern of behavior in a flock. In plain English it means there is a top bird who runs the show and all of the rest of the chickens fall in line under it, depending on rank within the flock.
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Generally the top bird gets first crack at food, water and treats. Other members of the flock will “make way” for the alpha. An alpha can either be a rooster, if your flock has one, or a dominate hen will fill the role if you don’t.

If you have a rooster, and only one rooster, he will likely take the alpha role as he reaches maturity. If you have more than one rooster in your flock, the roosters will battle for dominance. With enough space and hens available, multiple roosters will create their own mini flocks (the hens they watch over) within the larger flock and can coexist without to many squabbles.

In a flock composed entirely of hens, there will be one dominant female who will establish herself as the alpha in the absence of a rooster. Younger birds are typically lower in the hierarchy, and older or more aggressive birds will rise to the top. If you later introduce a rooster to your flock, the alpha hen may continue to hold rank, even over the rooster if he is young. We had two roosters who our alpha hen, Grumpy Goldie, not only put in their spot, but kept them there till we rehomed them.

“I don’t care if you are a rooster, you will wait till I’m done eating.” ~ Grumpy Goldie

So how do chickens establish a pecking order?

Believe it or not, the pecking order begins the moment they come out of the shell. When we hatched eggs last spring it was interesting to watch the whole dynamic begin as the various eggs began to hatch. The first born chick tried to establish dominance by peeking the next hatching chick as soon as it was out of the shell. But the peeking order is fluid thing, and once all the eggs hatched and the chicks were moved to the broader, the cute little fluffy chicks continued to peck each other. It may have looked cruel, but they quickly sorted things out and the first born was NOT the alpha of the group.

Sizing each other up!


As birds age or members of the flock come and go, the social structure will fluctuate. The stronger (and pushier) birds will move up in rank while the more submissive will move down in rank. And while the chickens maintain the pecking order, it can sometimes appear that they are extremely rude, but it is the natural behavior of flock dynamics. A balanced pecking order is necessary for the flock to function properly. When each bird knows where it stands, the flock will be content and live in harmony.

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So what are the benefits and responsibilities of the alpha in a flock?

Well, being top dog, or chicken in this case, comes with some advantages. The alpha has first choice on food, first access to feeders and water, dibs on the best treats, favorite nesting boxes, preferred dust bathing spots, and the highest roosting spots. Alpha chickens will maintain this control through clucks, stance, and the occasional peck. We have hens who have been together for years, but occasionally our alpha still takes a peck or two at the more submissive birds to remind them of their place.

As the alpha in a flock, that bird takes on the responsibility of making sure the flock dynamics are upheld. If it is a hen, think of her like the mom. She makes sure everyone not only stays in line, but leads the way when it comes to foraging for food, seeking shelter, and warning the others of danger.

Getting ready to roost for the night, Grumpy Goldie always has the highest perch, even over young roos.

Introducing new members to the flock…….

Since the pecking order chances over time, with the introduction of new birds or the loss of other, remember there will be disputes. Just like if a hen or rooster is sick or becomes injured they will lose their place in the pecking order and will need to fight for it again once they recover, new birds will also have to assert themselves to gain ranking in the flock. Disputes can be minor and last only a few seconds with a peck or two, or they can turn downright nasty and end with serious injuries or even death. While I like to let my flock figure it out themselves, I will step in if it becomes too much. I don’t need injured birds!


But what can you do?!?! Well there is always time out. It works for kids, right? Why not for chickens? If someone in my flock gets too big for their feathers they get to spend a little time separated in a temporary pen where the individuals involved can see each other and “talk out” their differences without injury.

To avoid serious injuries when introducing new chickens to your existing flock, it is best if they can see and vocalize at each other, but can’t physically interact. We put our new members, usually chicks, in an upside down baby play pen, this way my older hens can see the babies but can’t hurt them. This gives everyone the chance to start the pecking order process by getting acquainted without coming into contact with each other. As they size each other up, you can kind of get an idea on how they may act once they are together.

Buffy checking out the chicks we hatched.

Everyone feels bad for the underdog, but in every group, there is a low man, someone who brings up the rear. It’s just the way life is. You can help avoid conflict by providing multiple feed and water areas, plenty of roosts in the coop, and plenty of “hiding” places for lower ranking members to get away from or avoid more dominate flock members.

You and the pecking order…..

Yes, you are part of the pecking order! Your chickens will view you as a member of their flock, which places you in the pecking order. Let me tell you, you do NOT want to be at the bottom of the hierarchy. Why? Well, sometimes a rooster will try to challenge a human. If a chicken (predominantly a rooster) dances around you with its wings out and charges towards you they are trying to dominate you. This is when you need to establish YOUR dominance as some roosters will peck and jump at you with their spurs and will attack you if you turn your back.

A human aggressive chicken can cause some pretty painful wounds! If you have children and an aggressive chicken, I suggest keeping it penned up, away from the children. With children being shorter than adults the attack could cause serious facial damage, especially to the eyes.

If you catch aggressive behavior early you need to put a stop to it. Never run from the bird, this only reinforces their view that they are dominate over you. You should stand your ground or even run and chase the bird! If a bird still tries to attack you, you can grab them and pin them down on the ground. Gently hold the bird on the ground until it calms down. You may have to do this a few times, but a smart bird will soon learn its place.

Sometimes you will find a bird, usually a rooster who just will not give up on trying to dominate you. In that case you have limited choices. You can live with it, rehome it (make sure you tell the new owner it is aggressive) or send it to the stew pot.

Just spending some time with a friend.

Most people get chickens to enjoy not only the eggs, but the company of the birds. Understanding flock dynamics will give you a better insight into the “secret” lives of chickens. It will help you identify if your flock has needs, like more feeding stations or nest boxes. Understanding the pecking order is fascinating (it is like watching a soap opera) and rewarding (a happier flock.) And just remember, the pecking order is a natural process that once settled will make for a harmonious flock!





25 thoughts on “Understanding the Pecking Order

    1. Well thank ya! It just kind of came to me last year, which is funny because it has been sitting in a closet for a few years. Wish I had thought of it sooner LOL

  1. Great, informative post, girl!! So interesting, isn't it? I might have to stop reading, though, cuz I'm wanting a chick or 2, more and more! And seeing your little guy playing in the grass with your girl….life just doesn't get any better, does it? What a great way to be raised! Thanks for all the great info you always come up with!! Dona

    1. Actually, my girl is a boy! LOL Maybe he needs a hair cut!! And I will die the day you tell me you got chickens, cause you are so going to get chickens. I know you will.

  2. I can't wait until the day when I can have my own flock of chickens! I will never send them to the stew pot though. Not even if they peck me!

    1. Bwaaa haa haa You say that now, but get your butt kicked by a rooster and I bet you start thinking of recipes *wink*

  3. What a great metaphor! I don't think I have heard this much about chickens and roosters since I heard it from my dad as a girl growing up on a farm. Happy to be visiting as your neighbor today at the Linkup at Strangers & Pilgrims on Earth.

  4. This post is just what I needed! I'm gearing up for my very first flock next week, starting with some chicks and then mixing them with some older hens. I love the upside down playpen idea, and never would have thought I'd be included somewhere in the pecking order! Sharing this on pinterest and facebook. ๐Ÿ™‚

    1. Thanks for sharing this post. And yes, you will be in the pecking order, so make sure they know who controls the treats! LOL

  5. This is such an interesting post! ๐Ÿ™‚

    Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!

  6. These are great ideas for flocks and for life. Thanks for sharing your chicken adventures at the Over the Moon Link Party.

  7. Very interesting post, thanks for sharing with Hearth and soul blog hop. pinning.

  8. Hey, I just wanted to drop a note and invite you to come join us at Sunday's Simple Homemaker Link-Up. Would love to have you link-up!! http://www.prairiegalcookin.com/sundays-simple-homemaker-5th-weekly-link-up/

  9. I love the idea of the upside down playpen…it's a perfect use for an older one that is no longer needed! Genius!! Thanks for adding this to FromTheFarm…you were once again chosen as a favorite (which is no surprise to me ๐Ÿ˜‰ )Hope to see you again this week!

  10. Mindie, I have a question regarding the rooster, so far he has not been aggressive towards me but, he came into our world when we picked up 8 little ones from Tractor Supply this spring. They were all supposed to be hens, so surprise when I hear a cockle-doodle-do! Anyway, should I deter him from being aggressive to the 7 little ones? I know it is mother nature and all, he is chasing them a bit and pecking at their necks. I also have 4 older hens and one of them is definitely the alpha chick, she and the rooster have bowed up to one another a couple of times – kinda funny. But I do not want to see anyone get injured. Should he get a time out from time to time? Thanks in advance for the advice!

    1. Funny how those pullet bins always have a few boys. It has happened to us before too. A boy is gone be a boy when is comes to roosters. He his "claiming" the hens and depending on age, might have his mind on you know what. As for the older hens, it is funny to watch a full grown rooster run in fear *snicker* We always get ride of our roosters so we have never had any injuries. But a rooster is great for guarding your girls. The pecking order can seem brutal but it is just the way it is. You have to step back and let the pecking happen. But keep a close eye on them. If there is ever blood drawn, it is time to step in!

    2. Thanks for the advice and I will keep an eye out for anything overly aggressive. And yup he scurries the opposite direction from the older ladies – it is kinda funny ๐Ÿ™‚

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