I noticed 2 of my pullets (approx 21 wks old) bumping chests this morning. Goldie fluffed out her feathers and ran at Felicity who then fluffed up and they began bumping chests several times (like sumo wrestlers!). They've been together for 4 months now so I assumed they had the pecking order established. Any ideas what this is about?
All chickens have to protect their rank in the pecking order. Just as the alpha roo has to keep those beneath him in line, so does the dominant hen.
My chicks are only 3 weeks old and do this! They fluff up and fly at each other and stretch their necks as tall as they can go. Poor things probably think they're being intimidating!
Mine do that too, especially when we let them out to roam the yard! It looks so funny, and the accompanying squawk is even better! We have 6, 3 of which are a month older than the others. The top 2 'big girls' seem to each aspire to be top bird, even though they had established that in the very beginning. I guess it's an ongoing contest.