What does this mean?

[jallny]

What does it mean when chickens raise the feathers on the back of their neck? Mine will usually do this and challenge another chick, but they dont do much. They will also do this then shake themselves so all the feathers fluff and then recede. What does this mean???

 

[vannaHaines]

Mine do this too! I'm not 100% sure, but I'm guessing it's an authoritative gesture....Basically a 'I dare you to mess with me....' thing.... lol

 

[Den in Penn]

Ruffing the feathers is the first stage of an aggressive encounter. At that point especially with chicks, it very easily deescalates. Liken it to two athletes playing a game and doing some trash talk. It can get worse, but usually it leads to nothing. Shaking it off and resettling their feathers.