Chicks establishing pecking order

[JaceAgain]

I have 3 unknown sex silkies and 3 supposed to be female chicks (2 SLW and 1 EE). They are all from 2-7 weeks. There's one silkie who I suspect is a boy from attitude from the start, hes 7 weeks now. The other 2 I'm not sure about, they are 6weeks ish. They are pretty passive. Anyway, they all behave in the brooder, but when I put them in the outside pen to enjoy the day, they go all crazy and fly at each other and peck heads and such. And if anyone startles the "boy" silkie, he/she runs over and pecks a head. Theres a whole lot of posturing, mostly between my "boy" silkie and the 2 wyandottes, but the other dive around occasionally.

Long story to say, could they actually be all hens since they are working out the pecking order between them? Wouldn't a roo not mess with that?

 

[Odelia]

I have found the accidental roo's I have gotten did peck and posture. I don't believe they do that much once they get older. I had older hens with a teenage roo. My hens were not going to easily give up there place to some teenager. There was quite a bit of posturing going on. I am not exactly sure how smoothly it works once they accept him as head of the flock because my roosters have always found new homes.

 

[brood mother]

What does posturing mean? New to this chicken world and the lingo!

 

[JaceAgain]

What does posturing mean? New to this chicken world and the lingo!

I don't know if posturing is chicken specific lingo, but it means to "behave in a way that is intended to impress or mislead others."
Basically the chicks fly/ flutter around and puff up and act like they are the boss until someone else out bosses them Its how they work out the pecking order

 

[Odelia]

My last rooster was always puffing out its hackles and stretching his head up while puffing out his chest. He was trying to look like a "big man.' As he was a skinny golden campine and my hens are things like marans and Australorps they were not impressed.

 

[JaceAgain]

My last rooster was always puffing out its hackles and stretching his head up while puffing out his chest. He was trying to look like a "big man.' As he was a skinny golden campine and my hens are things like marans and Australorps they were not impressed.

lol!
Well, it was worth a shot. I don't really see him roostering (?) that way, but if another chick flies up he runs over and puts his head on theirs lol.

 

[Odelia]

lol!
Well, it was worth a shot. I don't really see him roostering (?) that way, but if another chick flies up he runs over and puts his head on theirs lol.

Yes, but didn't you say he is only 7 weeks old? Give him time.

 

[SusanPC]

I have also noticed this flying around and pecking each other or even jumping on each other (or flying and landing onto each other) with all my 4 chicks occasionally. Especially when I take them outside. I don't know why they're doing this, but I suspect it's normal chick behavior, like practicing big chicken stuff. Kind of like wolf puppies fighting with each other to learn about things. I think it's practicing dominance and pecking order and flight and "herding" - keeping together for safety. That's my two cents, but what do I know about chickens? Only that the more I learn, the more I realize I don't know!