Baby chick trying to get mom hen to submit?

[KRack]

Our hen hatched a chick 4 weeks ago, and she's been a great mama. This morning I let them out and I noticed they were staring each other down, neck feathers raised, and the chick seemed to be trying to get mom hen to submit (jumping at her and pecking her). It didn't work obviously because it's so much smaller than mom. Is this normal behavior?

 

[sourland]

Yes. Mock fighting/playing is done by both pullet and cockerel chicks.

 

[KRack]

Yes. Mock fighting/playing is done by both pullet and cockerel chicks.

Thank you! I didn't know when it would start trying to figure out where it is in the pecking order, but it seems so small!

 

[SueT]

My most recent mama hen weaned her chicks at 4 weeks. Maybe your hen needs to do the same .
I have found that the little cockerels are much more likely to have that confrontational behavior and do it a lot more often.