I'm new to chickens . . . is this strange?

[pdxblossom]

This is my first flock. Three chicks, two light brahma pullets (I hope) and one Black Australorp cockerel. They are only 4 - 5 weeks old and still in the indoor brooder. They will be there until the coop is finished/delivered in two weeks.

Anyway, when they are inside in the 3 x 2 brooder they get along famously. I have observed no pecking or aggression. When we take them outside (daily for 1 - 3 hours) they get to free range the yard. Mostly they just follow each other around scratching in the dirt and grass. Occasionally though, the cockerel will suddenly run over to one of the other chicks and kind of stand up all tall and puffed out - almost like a challenge. There is no pecking, but it seems sort of aggressive. A couple of times he's done that and the other chick will sort of challenge him back. I can't explain it exactly.

My better half thinks it's just play. I think I agree, but want to make sure that things are groovy for the chickens.

The cockerel is going to be re-located in a couple of weeks (he's illegal here). I'm going to miss him a lot. We're getting three to replace him (ha ha).

Thanks!

 

[pdxblossom]

Here is the "big guy" and his girls outside the other day . . .

 

[Dingleberry]

Yes it is normal. even the two girls alone will do this. chest bumping. He is just saying "I am taller than you, na na"

 

[ekemily]

totally normal

 

[easttxchick]

No, it's very normal-I have 2 little chicks that hatched Sat-Sun and they are already posturing at each other-they like to start establishing pecking order right off the bat.
He's really cute!

 

[MaggieRae]

My gals did that all the time. They're getting their pecking order established. I wouldn't worry about it too much unless there's actual pecking going on.
I kept an eye on it, but mine never actually got violent.

 

[Amyable]

I have a flock (my first one too) of straight run birds of mixed breeds, and I see a lot of stand-offs. Pullets or cockerals, they run up to one another and have a stare down, sometimes some aggression and jumping too. I assume they're working out their pecking order. Most of my birds are 8 weeks, some older, some younger. As long as nobody's drawing blood...

 

[pdxblossom]

Thanks for making me feel better! And yes, he is cute. He looks like a teenage boy who just got out of bed . . . all disheveled and confused. His name is Stink.

 

[StormyMoon]

My pullets do the ( BUMP Chest ) thing and fluff up and then go back to what ever they was doing.....its funny to watch no one tries to hurt the other.

 

[woodmort]

They like to play "chicken" will run at each other to see who will veer first--sometimes neither does then they chest bump.