Flying/jumping at each other?

[memeandgrumpy]

Mine are 4 weeks and the brooder is about 18" they get on top of the water bottle and flap from there

 

[csaylorchickens]

Haha mine do this too. The chest bump and get taller stuff and fly at each other. Hilarious!

Reminds me of nemo when dory said "do ya got a problem buddy? Do ya? Do ya? Do ya?!" Haha

Pecking order for sure. I already know who the lead hen is and who is on the bottom. The lead hen is named Mrs. Piggy because she rules the roost and eats EVERYTHInG she is also the biggest. The smallest is named chica Bon Bon and she is so timid! It's funny that they challenge the leader at times but when they are scared, the run behind the lead hen.

 

[Mike26726]

Mine are also playing like this. Still haven't figured out who is the boss there are 3 out of the six that continue to challenge each other. The other 3 don't seem to care as long as they get to eat and be help

 

[Josmema]

I have 5 chicks in the house doing the same thing and I was starting to dread they were all roosters. Glad it's normal behavior and there's still a chance they could be hens.

 

[Chickfever2020]

Every day I let my chicks out of the brooder into their run for a little while and they go CrAzY! They get along fine in the brooder, snuggling & loving on each other but as soon as they get some space they start running around chasing everbody and jumping thru the air at each other. What are they doing? It's kinda fun to watch but then I get a little uncomfortable like I should stop them! Is is just horseplay or determining the pecking order?

This was such a great question. My chicks are doing the exact same thing! I have 4 silkies and 2 d’uccles. The silkies are the ones flying and jumping at each other the d’uccles are more chill. Glad to know this is normal and not bullying. Phew

 

[NoahRavenfork]

mine are all between 7-5 weeks old and they still do this we have 10 light brahma 4 Buff orps, 4 gold stars, 6 white leghorn there oldest by about a week, 2 SLW. the White leghorn seem to be the Queen now but will that stay like that with all the others being bigger at full grown???

Leghorn breeds are pretty dominant

 

[NoahRavenfork]

My chicks are 6 weeks. Doing the same thing. Its nice to know there are other chicken people here that we can share our stories while our chicks are the same age. Im not able to feed meal worms out of my hand any more. Chicks pull my skin up on my hand! LOL Other treats? No problem. Out of my three, the Barred Rock is starting to challenge my hand. She started pecking me so I pinch her back. Yesterday I pinched her back every time (total of 3 pecks) and today she's been a good girl. well see again later.. just to show her who's boss. Its awesome how they fly up to sit on me. One on each shoulder and 1 on my head. I was so scared she was gonna crap!

Please don't pinch a chicken

 

[frostic]

Mine do this too (in the brooder still, almost 5wks old). The best part is that the bantams jump on the bigger guys and try to roost there.

My EE does the same to my bantam LOL. shes always scaring me.
like today shes laying on her side and the other one is laying on top of her lol

 

[coledabomb]

Quote:

LOL! I dont know! They are silkies & I can only tell that my two reds are roos but the other 4 are still questionable! I have 1 white that tries to be big and act crazy too, but it is so much smaller than the rest that it just looks silly

I really hope to be able to tell what I have soon...I have asked a few times about colors/gender traits but no such luck on getting answers

What’s your hen to rooster ratio?

 

[JoeXL]

I have a half pint that was the last of the flock born that harasses all the other bigger chicks who could kick her butt. She was the only one that cried for hours after being born. Now she's cocky.