We evaluated interactions of hens within breeding groups as winter flocks dissolved to see whether relatedness influenced their behavior. When hens left winter flocks and joined social groups prior to breeding, they interacted considerably during prelaying. However, once hens began laying, their social groups dissolved and only ~3% of contacts amongst hens occurred during laying, and 94% of all contacts were between unrelated hens. Combined with the fact that most hens left winter flocks and joined social groups void of any relative, our findings suggest that hens identify a cost to associating with kin during the reproductive season.
