Chest bumping chicks....

[DramaBrahmaMama]

So... do the tiny terrorists always begin to do the chest bumping thing?? I have a mix of Light Brahmas and Barred Rocks. They are 3 weeks old. For about a week, I've noticed 2 of the LB's doing it to one another... I lovingly refer to them as the "Mean Girls." Then, yesterday, I saw a couple of my BR's join in. They will jump off the little roosting bar onto the LB's and begin chest bumping them... Is this normal or am I going to have an issue with them??
Pic for attention...
Chicken tude!

 

[Buckingham Palace]

they might be playing Or play fighting.

 

[Liz Birdlover]

As long as you don't see feather bald spots or bloody boo boos, it's normal pecking order. If you see injuries though...not good. When hens got older, I saw some bullying, And the bully got a time out in her own cage alone for a few days. When she was returned to the group, There was no more bullying, Just typical pecking order pecks.

Another time everyone suddenly ganged up on one hen after 3 years of being friends, And I did have to move her to live with another group. Just gotta check them over every day.

 

[DramaBrahmaMama]

The Drama Brahma standoff this evening...

 

[Lenny loves chickens]

So... do the tiny terrorists always begin to do the chest bumping thing?? I have a mix of Light Brahmas and Barred Rocks. They are 3 weeks old. For about a week, I've noticed 2 of the LB's doing it to one another... I lovingly refer to them as the "Mean Girls." Then, yesterday, I saw a couple of my BR's join in. They will jump off the little roosting bar onto the LB's and begin chest bumping them... Is this normal or am I going to have an issue with them??
Pic for attention...
Chicken tude!

Do you have any roos? They could be forming the pecking order

 

[DramaBrahmaMama]

Do you have any roos? They could be forming the pecking order

We're still at the wait and see stage with "him". But "he" does seem to run into the middle of it and break it up.

 

[_-Captain BRM-_]

The Drama Brahma standoff this evening...

Definitely just playing and figuring out the pecking order totally normal and nothing to worry about.

 

[DramaBrahmaMama]

Definitely just playing and figuring out the pecking order totally normal and nothing to worry about.

They definitely were entertaining tonight! The stare off was new.... and HYSTERICAL!!!!!!!!!

 

[Liz Birdlover]

The Drama Brahma standoff this evening...

Lol, cutie pies having a power play!

Life is tough down on the turf,
but rather peaceful up on the perch!

 

[Ridgerunner]

So... do the tiny terrorists always begin to do the chest bumping thing??

I hate to say "always" with anything about chickens. No matter what I say somebody can come up with an exception. The only thing consistent with chickens is that they are inconsistent. That's a big part of why chicken TV is better than anything on cable, satellite, or antenna.

Whether they are boys or girls, at that age chest bumping is perfectly normal. They are working on the pecking order. It's also normal f they don't chest bump but do other things to sort the pecking order.