Pecking order
From Wikinfo
The pecking order is a phenomena of animal behavior observed in fowl, especially in chickens. Primarily, it refers to when chickens peck other chickens to establish social heirarchy. This conduct occurs intraspecies and interspecies and is prevalent in other high animal species such as bovines, whales, primates which all live in herds, flocks, and groups. The phrase was coined by farmers and is part and parcel of agrarian philosophy and a principle of common sense.
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The natural world
The pecking order is established between species (interspecies). Usually, the larger species establishes dominance in food gathering or in favourable places in the environment. Within species (intraspecies), it is constrained most often to the female side of the group since generally, there is only one dominant male in the group. The dominant male drives off all other males. In a sense, it could be called a pecking order. But more often than not, it is established among the female members. The importance of the pecking order establishes who can eat first and who can enjoy favorable environmental settings.
In fowl, when mixed together, interspecies heirarchy establishes itself. When feeding a mixed group of swans, geese, ducks and chickens, the larger birds restrict and threaten the smaller species. The swans or geese eat first, then the ducks and last of all the chickens. Necessarily, on the farm, the farmer seperates the chicken from either the ducks and geese. Between geese and ducks, geese will establish a position over ducks.
On the African plains, interspecies pecking order is established between the several feline predators. Lions are supreme on the plain. Next is leopards and then cheetahs occupy the lowest position. Lions will prey on leopards and cheetahs. Leopards will prey on cheetahs but cheetahs never concern themselves with either higher species.
Intraspecies, female chickens will establish pecking order amongst themselves. A higher chicken will peck an inferior chicken. All the chickens in a flock will have a certain place in the group. Some are higher, some in the middle and those at the bottom. The higher chicken can peck any other chicken. The ones in the middle will peck those lower than them. The ones at the bottom, do not peck.
On dairy farms, a pecking order is established amongst the domesticated milk cows. They will line up heirarchly at the gate to be milked. In a place with an higher concentration of food, the higher cow will push lower ranking cows out of the way to get to the food.
Domesticated cows establish their rank by the swinging of their heads against the side of their social inferior. With horns, this approach is sometimes damaging. It is one reason that most farmers and ranchers de-horn their cattle.
Agrarian philosophy
The pecking order is a examplar of a natural order. A concomitant of order is heirarchy. Nature exhibits order and heirarchy. Common sense then dictates that this is normal.
Occurences of the phrase 'pecking order'
- "He observes with great humor and finesse this socially unique species, revealing their strategies for ensuring dominance and submission, their flourishes of display behavior, the intricate dynamics of their pecking order, as well as their unorthodox mating practices."—Book review on The Natural History of the Rich
- "Where did Max come from and how did he end up so high in the pecking order of the Club?"—Max Mosley: Face to Face by Thomas O'Keefe, U.S.A.
