No "belly bumping"

[Ellie]

Rhett is nearly 6 weeks old and has been raised by my broody hen, Lacy. I noticed yesterday that he ran up to his mom and stuck his chest out and as he got closer, she fluffed her wings and the poor boy skidded to a stop.

My other chicks have all done that to each other and "bumped bellies" and stared each other down. He has no one to do this with, being an "only chick".

What are your thoughts as to his development without it? Are they playing when they do that? Mock fighting?

Just wondering....

 

[silkiechicken]

Baby will be fine. I've had broodies grow up single chicks and they integrate right in. The biggest loners I've had were single chicks raised by me due to bad hatches. It's usually to sort out who's top chick and who's not, and even "play fighting" with mommy hen, baby will learn the signals just fine.

 

[Ellie]

Ahh, the top chick thing. Thanks, that makes sense. I just didn't want my baby boy to be deprived, lol.