Talk:Pecking order

Wikipedia needs a new article
Capital structure - Pecking order

In this theory of capital structure, the firm prefers internal to external financing and debt to equity. S.C. Myers (1984) “The” Capital Structure Puzzle”, Journal of Finance 210.84.55.247 06:55, 18 March 2006 (UTC)Emmanuel

incorrect definition of "pecking order"
Anybody who has lived in proximity with chickens knows that "pecking order" has most to do with the fact that if one chicken develops an illness or even a small sore spot on its body (perhaps from being pecked on the head by another chicken in a food issue), that "defective" chicken immediately becomes the target of pecking by the flock. Eventually the flock pecks the poor injured chicken to its untimely death.

Not coincidentally, humans exhibit similar character. For example, when a group of children sense one child who is weaker in some way, the group sets about targeting the "weak" child by harrassing, bullying, and even physically attacking. Likewise, members of a work unit or organization are known to "peck" a member who is sensed as having a weakness.


 * Animals with a weakness are especially picked on, possibly as a way of killing them before they can spread disease or saving resources since they will still eat though being unlikely to breed. Regardless of this, the concept of pecking order stands firm and there is no incorrect definition. Pecking order is an important behaviour in the social order of chickens, and anyone who has seen how chickens interact will be perfectly aware that they peck other chickens regardless of their health. Richard001 04:30, 26 January 2007 (UTC)


 * So this means there are more than 1 chicken in a brood (?) being pecked to death at a time? Is the OP saying any chicken bearing a mark (interpreted as illness) will be pecked to death? Codenamemary (talk) 19:05, 18 June 2010 (UTC)

Pecking order definition on page is correct! The pecking order is really about the social hierarchy, not abusing chickens with Injuries or illness. Having an injury or illness often causes the Hen to drop to the bottom of the Pecking order, but nothing more than that. Get your facts straight! GreyPage (talk) 03:23, 11 May 2018 (UTC)
 * Exactly. It's not bullying order. The social rank can be anything. At least, it has come to be known as such, regardless of what the order looks like in chicken. 73.223.80.43 (talk) 22:12, 9 February 2020 (UTC)

Pictures
I have some chickens and I could take a picture of my sister's black chicken (dominant) pecking my yellow chicken (lowest rank). Would that be useful? UNIT A4B1 (talk) 22:23, 9 March 2010 (UTC)

That would Be great! GreyPage (talk) 03:24, 11 May 2018 (UTC)

Sorting out multiple WP:FORKs in this area
Discussion was at Wikipedia_talk:WikiProject_Animals. The multiple and very large overlaps were glaring. Chiswick Chap (talk) 17:00, 22 May 2021 (UTC)