Old McDonald Had Some Bullies!

Play is Good
For pigs, one way to reduce pecking-order activity is to redesign pig stalls so that piglets from different families can meet 10 days or sooner after birth. That way, they learn to play and get along without fighting.

This is a lot like the way kids learn how to get along. They go outside and play with their friends. They learn how to spot bullies and avoid fights. Just as less fighting among pigs, chickens, or cows is good for the animals and farmers, so is less fighting good for children and their parents.

But every time you change schools or move to a new neighborhood, there's a new pecking order to deal with. Moving may be even more stressful for animals than people!

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