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Social Structure and Group Composition:
Social Structure and Group Composition:
Free‑ranging chickens are naturally social animals. Their social groups are organized around:
Free‑ranging chickens are naturally social animals. Their social groups are organized around:
- Hens and their chicks, which form the stable core of the flock
- Hens and their chicks, which form the stable core of the flock
- Roosters, which tend to live more independently rather than remaining embedded within the hen–chick group
- Roosters, which tend to live more independently rather than remaining embedded within the hen–chick group
Chickens reach social maturity at around one year of age, although most commercial birds are slaughtered before reaching this stage.
Chickens reach social maturity at around one year of age, although most commercial birds are slaughtered before reaching this stage.
Aggression and Social Hierarchy
Aggression and Social Hierarchy
Free‑ranging chickens display more aggressive behaviors than chickens kept in battery (caged) systems.
Free‑ranging chickens display more aggressive behaviors than chickens kept in battery (caged) systems.
Their social rank—often referred to as the “pecking order”—is influenced by multiple factors:
Their social rank—often referred to as the “pecking order”—is influenced by multiple factors:
- Body size
- Body size
- Age
- Age
- Coloration
- Coloration
- Social environment and familiarity
- Social environment and familiarity
A chicken introduced into a new group is automatically lower in rank than those already established on their home territory.
A chicken introduced into a new group is automatically lower in rank than those already established on their home territory.
Nesting and Feeding Behavior:
Nesting and Feeding Behavior:
Both nesting behavior and food intake are strongly genetically controlled in chickens.
Both nesting behavior and food intake are strongly genetically controlled in chickens.
Nesting Behavior
Nesting Behavior
- Hens will build nests if provided with suitable materials.
- Hens will build nests if provided with suitable materials.
- Even adult chickens with no prior experience using nesting boxes will readily adopt them when available.
- Even adult chickens with no prior experience using nesting boxes will readily adopt them when available.
Feeding Behavior
Feeding Behavior
- Chickens have been selectively bred for high food intake, especially in commercial production systems.
- Chickens have been selectively bred for high food intake, especially in commercial production systems.
Development and Maturity
Development and Maturity
- Social maturity occurs at ~1 year, though most chickens do not reach this age in production settings.
- Social maturity occurs at ~1 year, though most chickens do not reach this age in production settings.
- Free‑ranging chickens have more opportunities to express natural behaviors, including aggression, exploration, and nesting.
- Free‑ranging chickens have more opportunities to express natural behaviors, including aggression, exploration, and nesting.
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