Chicken Behavior

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by rachel whetzel on November 5, 2011 at 2:37pm

Have you had them long? Especially if they are new to each other, they use "the bump" to establish the pecking order.

Permalink Reply by Erich Gottl on November 5, 2011 at 3:34pm

We've had them about 16 weeks and there does not seem to be any backing down of any of them when they do this, so I was wondering how long it might continue. It doesn't bother me, just strikes me as really funny. Thanks for your response!

rachel whetzel said:

Have you had them long? Especially if they are new to each other, they use "the bump" to establish the pecking order.

Permalink Reply by rachel whetzel on November 5, 2011 at 4:02pm

If they are young, it might also be that you've got roosters starting to display roo behavior... but in my hens, they usually do it when they are eating, and "squabbling" over who gets the best food spot. :) I have one or two hens that seem to draw this reaction more than others, and I'm pretty sure they are at the bottom of the order. :) Sounds like everyone knows where they belong, since all you're seeing is the bumping, and not actual pecking. I think the way their neck feathers get all ruffled when they do it is funny. :)

Permalink Reply by Marie Bryant on November 6, 2011 at 10:08pm

Mine do this too.  It replaces the pecking behavior they did as chicks in a more confined space...I believe it is a way to assert themselves and establish dominance.  In a playful way, like goats bumping heads. My chickens are much less aggressive with each other since they got moved to their big run, but they still need to keep that pecking order in place!

Permalink Reply by Erich Gottl on November 7, 2011 at 3:23pm

I'm new at raising these hens. Thanks for all of your insight/comments! It makes sense now.

Marie Bryant said:

Mine do this too.  It replaces the pecking behavior they did as chicks in a more confined space...I believe it is a way to assert themselves and establish dominance.  In a playful way, like goats bumping heads. My chickens are much less aggressive with each other since they got moved to their big run, but they still need to keep that pecking order in place!

Permalink Reply by Cassandra on October 18, 2012 at 4:24pm

I'm really glad I checked out this thread! I just ordered my first chicks and it's good to know this is something that I'm going to have to watch out for!

Permalink Reply by Erich Gottl on October 18, 2012 at 7:26pm

Good luck with the new chicks. They're really fun to watch and they grow very quickly. You'll learn alot from the experience and the very helpful people in this group.

 

 

 

Cassandra said:

I'm really glad I checked out this thread! I just ordered my first chicks and it's good to know this is something that I'm going to have to watch out for!

Permalink Reply by Cindy on May 21, 2013 at 1:08pm

I have watched my chickens do this as well.  I think its really funny cuz mine will start out mirroring each other with their movements then proceed into a chest bump.  I have one chick if it see two others doing this it will come running over and break it up.  And then you will see it doing it with another.