The henners Posted June 11, 2020 Share Posted June 11, 2020 We bought 3 young hens in April (17 weeks at the time). They have never pecked each other, corn from the hand is taken by 3 heads simultaneously, no set sitting in the coop and if one fluffs up the others copy. Will this harmony last? Or have they got a pecking order that's not visible? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted July 16, 2020 Share Posted July 16, 2020 Later on you may discover the most aloof one is the queen, while the next in line dishes out the commands. When our queen died there seemed to be no overall control and while there were a couple of wannabes, none wanted the role. I guess you'll discover who is at the bottom of the order soon enough. Although it sounds like yours have already settled into an agreed/mutual heirarchy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Posted July 29, 2020 Share Posted July 29, 2020 I had my ladies for 18 months no pecking order then one of them was not well for 3 days then after she recovered one of the others became the queen and pecked it when it was trying to feed. Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The henners Posted August 13, 2020 Author Share Posted August 13, 2020 Thank you for your answers. We still can't work out who is in charge. The point about "none wanted the role" might fit. One is very nervous (help there is a fly in the coop), one is so layed back and the third has never been well (vet suggested we might have to consider her place in the flock as she is having laying problems). They are so very different from one another but can't stand to be parted. If 2 are in the coop laying the other makes a fuss for being left all alone. We will watch with interest to see if things change when they get older. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapdragon Posted August 17, 2020 Share Posted August 17, 2020 I don't think we had any kind of (obvious) pecking order with our 3 L/S bantams. I was prepared for some pretty heavy behaviour but they were all lovely together. That said, they came from the same flock from the same breeder so may have just been so used to each other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...