Cube mk2 and WIR

[A chickychickychick-ENN!!]

Well, having thought I'd ascertained the pecking order, I'm now not sure at all. There seems to be a sort of commune of three, with Mrs Jones the Mendlesham Blue being very much out of the gang. But not in a bottom of the order way. She's just quite aloof. She's the biggest and strongest of the three, but likes to keep her distance from everyone and everything. So the other three all get along and hang out together, but Mrs Jones does her own thing.

 

Anyone else have a non-pecking order?

 

It all seems very eggalitarian. Sorry. Sorry about that. The eggalitarian thingy. It's late and that's when my worst puns pop out.

 

Anna x

[Adams Egg]

Pecking orders can be quite complex and involve you as well!

Ginger thinks she is queen and will peck at Rocky but defend Nugget. Rocky will peck at Nugget but will defer to Ginger and to Nugget too if Ginger is on the scene. Nugget will peck at food only.

More interestingly when I walk up to them they will all crouch but if my 9 year old daughter goes up to them she is chased by Ginger and her feet pecked at.

Likewise if I take out grapes they will wait until I feed them whereas they will try to steal them from other people.

I recall from my uni days about flock/pack creatures imprinting on humans which is why some rare birds are reared without any recognisable human contact. And I thought chickens just laid eggs, they have some interesting social structures!

[likeastar--x]

I only have 3 so it was a bit easier for me, but i was very confused as to whether saffron was top of the pecking order as she never really bonded with the other girls in the way that they did with each other - she kept to herself and doesnt get involved. however later on i found that she was at the top - she had first pick of food and when she walks away the others follow.

 

i dont know if this individual behavior was indication of her place on the pecking order but thats how it worked out for me and it may be the same for your mrs jones?

[A chickychickychick-ENN!!]

Mattilda seems to be the most dominant at feed time. Una leads any charge anywhere. Mattilda and Miss BH are the most 'approachable'. So I'm stumped! I think Mrs Jones lays first though.

[Purplemaniacs]

Are they all laying now? We found that the pecking order changed as hens came into lay.

 

Chrissie

[abwsco]

I still haven't a clue on our girls pecking order

 

We think Mindy, the smallest ex-batt is top girl as she pecks at others over food and was the most aggressive towards our new girls. Barney also goes for the new girls but also gets pecked at by Mindy. Mo stands in front of the pop hole at bed time when there is only her and Barney to go in and always tries to have a go at Barney then. Is it any wonder we're confused -lol

 

Oh, and I expect it to change as they new ones start to lay.

[A chickychickychick-ENN!!]

Yes maybe they are settling into a new order as today was - WHOOP! - a four egg day. We've had three a day or every other day for about the past week. But today - they're all in the laying club. I think Mrs Jones was laying first so she used to be top of the tree, but the others are now asserting themselves. "Ooops, word censored!"ody pecks anyone else though. I've seen no bullying. They're practically a commune, so harmonious are they.

 

Anna x