12-13 week old hens seem to be fighting when they are let out first thing in the morning is this nor

[centrarchid]

When I let my girls out of the morning I always make sure they have food and water before I let them out of their coop. They eat for a little bit and then they'll start puffing up their chest and chest bumping each other lowering their heads and chasing each other jumping on each other's backs I don't know if this is normal play fighting or if it's actual aggression. They remind me of roosters fighting. I have 17 birds in total 3 are Rhode Island Reds the rest are Plymouth rocks just wondering if this is normal behavior if they're just playing or if it's something I should be concerned about

Once my chickens reach the juvenile stage at about 5 weeks post hatch; each morning immediately after coming off the roost they reinforce pecking order within a given flock. Process usually does not require actual fightng. It is also the time the rooster mates the hens.

 

[TammyDolloff]

I had never noticed it before. Lol its funny to watch them. We have one that is the smallest of all my girls. I named her crazy. The reason being because every morning when they all start in with their tough girl stuff she will come blasting through like a bull in a china cabinet head lowered wings out and just run circles all over the Run acting all crazy and all the other hens stop what they're doing and run to the opposite side of the pin and look at her like shes crazy. I have never seen her get picked on. Lol. She has the right idea, smallest of the group, why not act crazy. No one wants to fight the crazy person... Or chicken! Lol

 

[TammyDolloff]

No I sold 11 because it was to many. So that left me with 3 of each and Im getting 3 Road Island whites. For 9 total instead of 17 lol. I live intown in a trailer park. So not enough space. I cried when they left. I got them at less then 24 hours old.