Weird Behavior?

[BlueBaby]

Hello, and welcome to BYC!

 

[drumstick diva]

Glad you joined us at Backyard chickens

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Greetings MapleHemp, Welcome to BYC!

 

[KLIL]

Hello and welcome to BYC!
You are going to love it here.
Hope to see more of your flock.
Lovely to meet you

I have documented My Flock Journey if you would like to take a look.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-flock-journey.1258290/

 

[chuckachucka]

The behaviour described is fighting. Could be just a bit of a scuffle to let off steam or could more some pecking order squabbles. Are you 100% sure they are all females?

 

[Barbs Girls]

Welcome aboard! Darn teenagers! They should work it all out soon!

 

[feathermaid]

Thanks All! I agree 17 is a lot lol! Actually I only asked for 12 but the guy showed up with 17 and I have a big coop so I thought oh well, let's do this!
I've got them on Nature Smart crumble for layers and I put out the oyster shell dish a couple of weeks ago and just noticed this morning one of the Buff Orps nosing around in it, maybe that's a good sign!

Hmmm.... it is possible that if you received extra birds beyond what you ordered, they could be cockerels. Sorry to bring it up, but I just visited this thread again and saw your new post about getting unexpected extra birds. Sometimes hatcheries will ship pullets with extra "packing peanuts" which are usually male chicks. Or sometimes sellers don't want roosters or can't sell them easily, so they'll just throw in some "free chickens" with the pullets.

Not saying that's what happened to you... just a possibility. May want to keep an eye out. I only mention it because cockerels can be quite a bit more aggressive than pullets at this age... and might not be ones you want to keep.