chick's status starts early

[Perris]

I was surprised today to see not-quite-3 week old chicks chest bumping; I had no idea the jostling for position in the pecking order started this young . Does it get sorted quickly, or will this go on till they're say, 8 weeks?

 

[JBerman21]

They will figure it out soon enough just let them work it out. My chicks have always tried to sort out the pecking order early!

 

[aart]

Chest bumping/sparring/mild pecking is normal at any age, have seen it at just a few days old. The pecking order is fluid, can change with the wind. At 8-12 weeks it may become even more prolific, it's part pecking order and part 'play'.