The Pecking Order

Chickens don’t get upset unless some of their flock gets killed and they witness the act, but it isn’t long before they are on to something else. However if you add a new chicken they all have to work out a new pecking order. A new chicken starts out at the bottom, but can quickly move up through the ranks. One can easily see the pecking order by which chickens consistently their coop at night. There are those that must stay outside until the other chickens pick their roost inside.

Blue, the rooster, doesn't care where the hens are unless he is in the mood to mate, which is about every five minutes. He doesn't show any bond to any particular breed or any particular hen.

Other than the pecking order, some of the hens stick together with other hens of their breed. I find this most interesting because this group of chickens has all been together since the first day of their lives. They were all treated the same, yet they are often seen flocking with their own kind as though there were no underlying pecking order, but when it comes to food or the best place to settle for the night, there is competition. It's pretty interesting stuff.