The feather pecking behaviour from the day of hatching was compared in lines of chicks that were prone to feather peck with those that were not likely to feather peck. Feather pecking was present the day after hatching and by the third day after hatching there was a marked difference between the two different lines that remained for the following weeks. Feather pecking appeared to be socially oriented rather than being related to ground pecking, as when a group of feathers was present the chicks did not peck at them as there was not a social link with the feathers. Therefore, feather pecking may be a result of social exploration rather than the hens redirecting foraging behaviours.