There have been major changes in the hen house since the rooster died. The hens have had to adjust to their new life without a dominant male figure, and it has been interesting to see the new pecking order.

Before the rooster gave up the ghost, he greeted each morning the same way. He’d greet the day from atop the hanging feeder.

He never missed a chance to greet the sun and alert us all to the news that morning had arrived. Again.

But now that he is gone, the hens have adjusted to their new world.

It took a while, but apparently there is now a new leader.

A few days ago, when we were planting our few cantaloupe seeds near the tractor shed, I noticed one hen in particular.

Most of the hens were clucking and pecking around in the sandy floor of their home, but not her.

She had jumped atop the feeder, fluttered her wings, thrown her head up into the air and clucked in a very strident manner.

Now, we don’t know if she has somehow been elected to the position of head hen by the rest of the flock or if she assumed the role due to a dominant personality.

We don’t think she believes she is a rooster, because other than becoming the head hen, her behavior hasn’t changed that much.

She’s a good layer and continues to present us with an egg almost every day. It may be that she had hidden leadership ability no one was aware of.

But at any rate, she struts around and acts a little self-important, just as though she is running for office.

Perhaps she is contemplating a new career and is running for a higher office.

Maybe she wants to become president of the hen house. You never know with an ambitious hen.

The other hens had better be careful. You know how some of these political figures become once they gain a little power. It can go to their heads. Now, this hen may not go that route.

Since the average IQ of a chicken is estimated to be around minus-5, I have my doubts that there’s much strategy going on in what brain there is.

I’ve personally witnessed the group behavior of a flock accidentally let out of the hen house by some small children. They frantically ran around the outside of the pen for some time, anxiously looking for a way back in, but couldn’t recognize the open door as an entrance. It took three people and careful maneuvering to capture them. This was not a quick fix, but took more than an hour.

This hen may not be a genius, but there are some clear signs of change in her behavior. She’s displaying some distinct aggression. Nature abhors a vacuum, and the vacancy left by the rooster was open for occupation.

As long as she continues to lay eggs and doesn’t spend too much time pecking the other hens on the head, she may adjust to her new position and become a great leader. Time will tell.

But meanwhile, the rooster is dead — long live the hen.