fighting chicks?

[beckysaur]

My 4-week-old buff orpingtons have started "fighting" occassionally. Are they just playing? Working out their hierarchy? Does this mean they're roosters?
Thanks!

 

[debilorrah]

Are they chest bumping like drunken men at a super bowl party?

 

[KellyHM]

Just working out the pecking order.

 

[beckysaur]

<Are they chest bumping like drunken men at a super bowl party?

lol.
hmmm... sort of?

 

[P@P@2four]

Quote:
LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes this is normal...I used to think it was a sign they were a roo, but then found my girls can be just as fiesty!

They'll work it out. What color brooder lamp are you using? I used to use a regular clear light bulb, but found the chicks are more skiddish and fought more with that...once I used a red brooder, they seemd more calm and less aggressive.

 

[beckysaur]

I do use a red bulb. Mostly they're pretty calm.

 

[debilorrah]

Quote:
It is completely normal. Funnier than heck to watch too. They are just sorting things out between them.

 

[FisherMOM]

so a red bulb.. hmm... is a red bulb a special bulb or just a red party bulb. lol... I should put a black light on mine at night, my chicks are whitish in color. hahaha!