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Free interaction between domestic chicks involved intersubject pecking. During tests as early as 1 day after hatching, socially reared birds showed reliable social discriminations by pecking more at strangers than they pecked at their cage mates. Compared with socially reared birds, chicks reared in isolation exhibited certain exaggerated or atypical response patterns. These patterns included heightened rates of intersubject peeking, a pronounced tendency to peck at the head, elevated emotionality as reflected in the distress call, and the failure of pair-mates to show matched rates of environmental pecking. Inferences were drawn from these patterns, with the conclusion that infantile intersubject pecking in chicks may be based on aggressive rather than strictly exploratory tendencies. The findings were discussed in terms of the development of a basic tolerance for conspecifics and early social orderings.

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