sooo confused.. chicken behavior

[chickolet]

okay, well I am really confused.. I posted about the feather pulling in the 2 1/2 week old chicks.. there was concern the brooder wasnt big enough.. so my husband is out of town, but I took it upon myself to go out and buy OSB and make them a new box in the basement.. This measures 6x8 ft and 2 ft tall..
I have all 29 in there.. and now they acting weird.. they fly around, kind of get in each others faces, almost pushy...
is this normal??? seems almost agressive..
Man I had 12 chicks last year they were the kindest easiest animals, was hoping to expand but I am not sure, I hope I dont regret this! These ones seem wild, there is one that even goes after my hand everytime I go in the box..
Is there such a thing as too much room, or are they just enjoying their additional space?

 

[nittanyxi]

well if they are using the space I'm sure they are enjoying it. I got 25 chicks last summer for the first time. When they were about 2 weeks old they really started to get active. some of them played very aggresive like chest butting each other. But they all grew up to be happy normal chickens.

 

[TheBuff]

They are having fun. If some seems to be getting pushy they will probably be roosters . They get that way at a early age.

 

[nittanyxi]

Just because they are pushy doesn't mean they will be roosters. someone told me that and I freaked out because I thought I had a flock of roosters. None of my aggresive chicks turned into roosters. Although I'm sure it is possible.

 

[chickolet]

Well I bought all pullets so I will keep my fingers crossed

Ty for the help!

 

[nittanyxi]

who did you get them from?

 

[chickolet]

Quote:
Townline Hatchery.

 

[Reyvaughn]

LOL, yeah, they are just playing and giving you a show in thanks for their new home! Mine did the same thing for hours after I doubled their brooder! Just sit back, watch and laugh!

ETA: BTW, wanna come build me a new brooder, too? O could use one that big since I can't seem to stop buying chicks!

 

[maizey]

Establishing a pecking order most likely. Mine did this and I thought i had roosters too..I didn't. Are the chicks you have now a different breed than the ones you raised before? Some breeds have a more "assertive" personality than others.

 

[chickolet]

Quote:
This batch is quite the mix.. a couple of each, leghorns, araucana, silver and golden laced wyandottes, new hampshire and rhode island reds, buff opingtons, black sex links, barred rocks, and 3 bantams

Last year I got isabrowns and black australorps..

time will tell, hopefully the feather plucking will stop now with this new found freedom...