4 week olds with agressive behavior?

[dusty910]

4 weeks old cochin bantys have started showing off and become really competitive. They charge each other, sticking out their chests with their necks stretched high. And then they lose interest a few seconds later (short attention spans lol) I swear, they remind me of some wilderness animal fighting for dominance over the females in the herd. Never noticed this with my first batch so are they roos or just establishing a pecking order?

 

[easttxchick]

I am having the exact same thing with my 5 week old GLW and SLWs. Just posturing right now, but I am hoping it doesn't escalate into all out gang war!

 

[HEChicken]

Its pretty normal behavior as they try to establish a pecking order.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
Agreed. Even if you don't have a cockerel in the bunch, somebody has to be at the top of the pecking order.

 

[Nyrial]

Oh good to know, I thought mine were developing early hormones or something, because they started that about 4 weeks too.

When does the whole hormone thing start anyway?

 

[gritsar]

The pecking order starts from day one in the brooder. My males started sowing their wild oats early, 10 weeks for one, fifteen for the other.

 

[strong440]

Thats a relief! I saw 4 of my 5 4 week olds doing this the other day - I was thinking "NO! Not 4 cockerels please!!!" But now I have hope!

 

[The Chickens' Maid]

Ours started bumping crops at a few weeks old or earlier. It turns out that three of the four were cockerels, but the one pullet did it just as much as the others!
Also, the three cockerels are all four months old now, and they are the sweetest birds (aside from their sister). They never fight seriously, and they get along with their Dad. They run from the hens, too, and they will fall asleep when I pet them!