Girl Fight?

[dbounds10]

I have 6 chicks that are 4 weeks old. My 2 EE's are squaring off and chest bumping and flapping all over the place. Is this a normal behavior for girls? I hope like crap these are not Roo's.

Advice/Opinions?

 

[I-Have-Happy-Hens]

I am sorry to say that is not what girls do they will give the small peck here and there but no that much fighting

 

[nuttyredhead]

Hmmm not good news here.. I have several 7 weekers that do that.....

 

[ScaredOfShadows]

Girls do this as much as males especially as chicks. ESPECIALLY bantams. I have hens who to watch, looks like they fight worse than my roosters do sometimes, and these are 1 yr + chickens. lol. My hens bumps chests, fluff up their necks, square off, and even jump at each other feet first like the roos do.

Usually its all fun or just for show of who is bigger and badder and nothing serious though.

Honestly in my experience it tends to be girls who are the biggest indescriminate (sp?) bullies as chicks lol

 

[lizzy06019]

I've seen some of my 13 month old girls doing this too... Buff orpingtons vs. Barred Rocks. But no one has ever REALLY gotten hurt. It's always just been a small pecking order scuffle and usually only at treat time.

 

[Josie]

My EEs girls do this more than any other breed as chicks. It seems to increase when they are happy (after treats or freedom), seems like playing.

 

[gryeyes]

Chest bumping, jumping at each other, neck feather flaring are NOT things that just roos do, little girl chicks do it too. And often grown up lady chickens, as well.

 

[ChickFarmer]

My orpington girls do the same. Especially when I first let them out in the morning. Did you buy your chicks sexed or sraight run?

 

[NYRIR]

Quote:
Agreed! I have a flock of 31 currently and as they grew they almost all did this chest bump thing....I also have a brooder with 41 3-5 week olds and I KNOW some of the hens are doing this as well.

 

[dbounds10]

Thanks for the comments - The chicks are supposed to be sexed but we all know how that goes. I am not seeing any big pink or red crops...so far so good.