Is this normal behavior?

[DottieMarie]

I see some of our 6 week old chicks kindda do some sort of body slams with each other.....is this normal behavior? They run at each other and bump chests in the air; looks like some rooster beer commericial. It's funny to watch but what the heck are they doing? BTW, these are BO pullets (at least they are supposed to be pullets)

 

[dixiechick]

sounds fairly normal...I've had chicks do this...it's when the pecking at one starts that I become alarmed....

 

[Wynette]

I had been told that only roosters do this; it's called sparring. However, I had a pullet that I knew for sure was a pullet, and is now laying eggs, in fact, do it with a cockerel from the same hatch, so pullets do it, too. Yes, I do agree that it's the beginning of establishing pecking orders.

 

[DottieMarie]

I didn't even think about the pecking order thing.....I think of my chicks as babies and too young for that stuff. I was hoping it was a roo trait because I'd like to have one in the group but actually just thought it was some weird game. Thanks for the comments.

 

[gritsar]

All chicks do it, regardless of sex. They are establishing the pecking order.