Normal or bullying behavior

[GardenYogi]

Hello experienced chicken moms and dads! I'm a newbie to the BYC family, but I've already spent hours reading through posts of helpful information *laugh*

I have a question of my own regarding chick behavior. I have four two-day-old girls: one Rhode Island Red, one Black Star, one Golden Comet and a Brown Leghorn. They're all about the same size (save the Black Star, she's just a wee bit smaller), but the Brown Leghorn has been exhibiting bullyish behavior, pecking at the beaks and bodies of the others. I just caught her going for the eyes this avo and started to research early behavior. Other posts that I've read seem to mention seperating them, but those seem like older pullets/chickens and not week old or less chicks. I'd love advice. Please describe what is normal vs. bullying and what I can do if it's the latter.

Thank you so much in advance!

 

[Nicole01]

They are sorting out the pecking order. It sometimes takes weeks or even months. My first group did not settle down until a year. I do have two that do not get along! My eldest EE and SS. They fight constantly! My SS has a bare neck due to losing every battle, yet she keeps going back for more. Once winter hits or cooler weather, I'll make something from my sewing machine and material for her, so my EE can't get at her neck.

Don't worry, they bump chests, fly at each other, peck and jump on each other. I have 3 new babies I hatched two weeks ago and I hear shrieking every now and then from them fighting. However, if I take one away, they freak out wondering what happened to their sibling/flockmate.

 

[GardenYogi]

Wow, a year! Thank you for the response! A shreek just came from the box as I write back! Pecking order- every adage has an origion *laugh*

So bare necks are normal huh? I think that would still freak me out and I'd want to intervene. I would love to see the little neck sweater you make your girl! That sounds cute (and needed!). Forgive my ignorance, but what's EE and SS? Is that the breed?

Cheers again!

 

[Nicole01]

EE and SS are Easter egger and speckled Sussex.

I don't have a rooster to stop the fighting, so I need to try and stop this behavior. Little chicks do not pull out feathers that I've seen. Mine were just under year old when the feather pulling started.

I know the fighting happens in some flocks, but not all. I have no idea how normal fighting is.

 

[Fur & Feathers]

They are sorting out the pecking order. It sometimes takes weeks or even months. My first group did not settle down until a year. I do have two that do not get along! My eldest EE and SS. They fight constantly! My SS has a bare neck due to losing every battle, yet she keeps going back for more. Once winter hits or cooler weather, I'll make something from my sewing machine and material for her, so my EE can't get at her neck.
Don't worry, they bump chests, fly at each other, peck and jump on each other. I have 3 new babies I hatched two weeks ago and I hear shrieking every now and then from them fighting. However, if I take one away, they freak out wondering what happened to their sibling/flockmate.

it also describes young human sibling rivalry very well to.

...well apart from the pecking maybe,kids dont do that do they?

chicks can have a 'thing' for certain body parts on their peers; eyes and feet are the most common,they can be fascinated by them.
to be honest have noticed this behavior in human babies/toddlers to,the one year old niece of mine is obsessed with poking the eyes of anything as well as toes.

amongst roos it is well documented but pecking order squabbling amongst hens can be quite bad so it is a good idea to read up on the realms of what can be considered normal.
consider pecking order squabbles the equivilent of a group of women desperately fighting over a reduced price posh handbag in a shop,they will all exert their dominance,puff their chests out and be very dramatic about showing who is the authority,all whilst the husbands [or in this case-the roos] look on in disbelief trying to hide that they are married to the women,eventualy wading in to pull them apart.