The springtime pecking order

Spring brings new life and fresh challenges to the coop. Cara Wheeldon discovers how to smoothly introduce new birds, curb bullying, and keep your flock happy and harmonious with help from expert advice.

- Cara Wheeldon

As the days grow longer and temperatures rise, many poultry keepers will soon begin introducing new birds or chicks to their flocks. But with fresh additions comes the challenge of maintaining harmony within the pecking order.

Kate Merritt, a 58-year-old seasoned poultry keeper from the northeast coast of Lincolnshire, and 52-year-old Esther Peel, another experienced chicken enthusiast, share their insights on navigating flock dynamics during the bustling spring season.

THE IMPORTANCE OF OBSERVATION

Kate Merritt's journey with poultry began 12 years ago after moving from Kent to Lincolnshire. Wanting to slow down from work, she decided chickens would keep her disciplined and give her more reason to rise in the morning.

Most of her flock consists of rescued ex-battery hens, alongside a few pure breeds, including a spirited Pekin bantam cockerel. "My next-door neighbour, however, has a large flock of mainly Barnevelder bantams, which, because of his age, I now spend a lot of time working with," Kate adds.

Reflecting on her flock's behaviour, Kate emphasises the value of observation. "I think the most important thing I have learnt about flock dynamics is to pay attention to them. If you spend enough time, the flock dynamics can tell you what is happening with some of your birds," Kate says, recalling when her deputy hen became unwell within the group.

UNDERSTANDING ORDER

According to the British Hen Welfare Trust, "hens are social animals and like to be part of a flock." Within just a few days of meeting each other, they will form a pecking order ranked in terms of dominance and social standing. It is normal to have lower-ranking hens who might get bossed about a bit by those at the top, but a keen eye should be kept on those being bullied in case intervention is needed.

Remember to keep a close eye on the flock