Normal behavior for 3-4 week old chicks? Pecking order or roosters?

I've got 7 baby chicks. 5 were sexed pullets from MPC-delaware, cochin, australorp, dominique, and RIR. I also picked up 2 bantam cochins out of a straight run bin at the Orschelns. The bantams are probably in the neighborhood of 4 weeks old, the standards from MPC will be 3 weeks old tomorrow. These are my first chickens so I'm learning as I go.

In any event, I'm positive I have at least one roo (see below) but when I was watching them this morning there was a lot of flying around into each other, chasing, posturing, etc. It wasn't just a few, it was the whole group. Normal? Are they sorting out the pecking order or am I going to have a bunch of little crowers? I have a place I can rehome a few roosters but I'd like to keep at least 4 hens for eggs.

I've been convinced that my buff bantam cochin is a rooster for about 2 weeks as his comb started developing really early, he has pinkish red waddles, and acts very "male". Here is a picture of "Pico" as of this morning-



Im starting to wonder about the other bantam, Jodi Foster. She's not developing as quickly but the waddles look pinkish although not as pronounced as Pico above.



Thoughts? Is what I described above normal hen behavior for a bunch of 3-4 week olds? Is Jodi a rooster or is it too early to tell?

Thanks for the help!

lutherpug said:

I've got 7 baby chicks. 5 were sexed pullets from MPC-delaware, cochin, australorp, dominique, and RIR. I also picked up 2 bantam cochins out of a straight run bin at the Orschelns. The bantams are probably in the neighborhood of 4 weeks old, the standards from MPC will be 3 weeks old tomorrow. These are my first chickens so I'm learning as I go.

In any event, I'm positive I have at least one roo (see below) but when I was watching them this morning there was a lot of flying around into each other, chasing, posturing, etc. It wasn't just a few, it was the whole group. Normal? Are they sorting out the pecking order or am I going to have a bunch of little crowers? I have a place I can rehome a few roosters but I'd like to keep at least 4 hens for eggs.

I've been convinced that my buff bantam cochin is a rooster for about 2 weeks as his comb started developing really early, he has pinkish red waddles, and acts very "male". Here is a picture of "Pico" as of this morning-



Im starting to wonder about the other bantam, Jodi Foster. She's not developing as quickly but the waddles look pinkish although not as pronounced as Pico above.



Thoughts? Is what I described above normal hen behavior for a bunch of 3-4 week olds? Is Jodi a rooster or is it too early to tell?

Thanks for the help!

Click to expand...

It's normal
The girls will posture, chest bump, chase, kick, peck and run around like a bunch of maniacs.
I'm no expert at all on sexing or even breed, but the Buff does look slightly boyish, but alas, time will tell. I could have sworn one of my sexed SLW was a boy every now and again, but she lays lovely eggs. The other, just don't know

I'm sure someone else will come along with better input than I.
Good luck with your cute babies!

I don't like guessing when they're young. I usually wait until they start growing so I can be sure.

I Love Layers said:

I don't like guessing when they're young. I usually wait until they start growing so I can be sure.

Click to expand...

2x, 4 wks old? Pretty hard to tell till their at least 12-14 wks. My 6, 5 wk olds are all girls and they do all the chest bumps and flying and challenging each other's since the 1st week.

Thanks for all of the replies! Good to know they're just being normal chickens. I'm still suspicious of my little Pico as his comb and waddles get redder daily but we will stay the course and see what happens.

Yes, all chicks will chest bump and 'play' fight.
But red wattle growth at 4-6 weeks is a big time cockerel flag for me, pretty accurate on most breeds.

I thought so too based on other threads I've read on here.