Chest bumping question

[dmartin101]

I believe the boys are trying to determine who the top cock will be.

They’re all ladies.

 

[dmartin101]

I thought they were hens.

Yes they are.

 

[dmartin101]

They do look like hens.

They are

 

[BarnyardChaos]

How big is your coop? If they've felt cramped, it could be just letting off some steam and stress out in the yard.

Our attached run is about 8x20 which I thought would be plenty of space for 8 hens.

I meant to ask how big is the coop (henhouse), but that was only if they had been confined inside until recently when you let them out to free range. But never mind, actually. Now that I know you have an enclosed run (and yes, it's plenty big enough!) they've been using as well, my question is moot.

 

[AnnPann]

I have 2 pullets that do the same thing, and only when I let them out of their run into my garden. It never goes further than standing on their tip toes and eyeballing each other, maybe a minor chest bump. Then then run off and play. Silly chickens.

 

[FunClucks]

When I moved my chicks from the brooder to the grow out box, lots of chest bumping and dominance flapping and flying about. Happened again when they moved from the grow out box to the covered run. Happened again when the younger flock was finally fully integrated into the larger flock, after 1-2 months of look-no-touch sharing the same run/coop. Whenever I change out their run clutter, they get all worked up and do some of this.

I think they are just looking for an excuse to try and exert dominance other each other. Any excuse is a good one. Adrenaline junkies!

 

[AGeese]

My hens did this as chicks and pullets, now the pecking order is firmly established with two dominent hens that rule with an iron fist. I see this more between the hens on the lower end of the totempole now on occasion.

 

[dmartin101]

I have 2 pullets that do the same thing, and only when I let them out of their run into my garden. It never goes further than standing on their tip toes and eyeballing each other, maybe a minor chest bump. Then then run off and play. Silly chickens.

So silly! I would have expected it more in the confined area of the run then in the wide open yard.

 

[dmartin101]

When I moved my chicks from the brooder to the grow out box, lots of chest bumping and dominance flapping and flying about. Happened again when they moved from the grow out box to the covered run. Happened again when the younger flock was finally fully integrated into the larger flock, after 1-2 months of look-no-touch sharing the same run/coop. Whenever I change out their run clutter, they get all worked up and do some of this.

I think they are just looking for an excuse to try and exert dominance other each other. Any excuse is a good one. Adrenaline junkies!

Lol… so true!

 

[dmartin101]

My hens did this as chicks and pullets, now the pecking order is firmly established with two dominent hens that rule with an iron fist. I see this more between the hens on the lower end of the totempole now on occasion.

I think these two are at the top because I see them chasing the others. They’ve always been the least afraid of anything since they were chicks.