1 week old EE acts like its trying to crow?

[Mootay]

Has anyone had a rooster make itself know as early as a couple days to week old? This very fiesty, determined baby is now a week old. At one day old, 'she' repeatedly tried to jump out of box on way home, brazenly runs out of her cat crate (even though we have cats in the house!), and today, I'm noticing her repeatedly stretching out 'her' neck and opening 'her' mouth, like she was trying to crow. Anyone else seen behavior this young, and would you consider it a telling male trait?

 

[hysop]

You’ll have to keep this thread updated to see what other shenanigans she does. And if she ends up being a cockerel. I’m sure some do show early signs but we don’t notice them always.

 

[Acre4Me]

Has anyone had a rooster make itself know as early as a couple days to week old? This very fiesty, determined baby is now a week old. At one day old, 'she' repeatedly tried to jump out of box on way home, brazenly runs out of her cat crate (even though we have cats in the house!), and today, I'm noticing her repeatedly stretching out 'her' neck and opening 'her' mouth, like she was trying to crow. Anyone else seen behavior this young, and would you consider it a telling male trait?

not likely signs of a male. It’s great that the chick is very energetic, and healthy. I love to get them very energetic! Chicks will stretch all the time. They will extend their neck and open their mouths as you describe for both sexes. It could be something stuck in throat, so might be trying to get it down. Make sure they are drinking water to help get the crumble down. Check for pasty butt, which can happen if they are slightly dehydrated.

 

[Mootay]

You’ll have to keep this thread updated to see what other shenanigans she does. And if she ends up being a cockerel. I’m sure some do show early signs but we don’t notice them always.

Sharon, I totally will! She's hilarious. If she doesn't turn out to be a cockerel, I suspect she's going to give my top hen a run for her money for head of the pecking order. ;-)

 

[derBauer]

Often females will be feisty too, this does not mean it’s a male. Those things can happen from any chicken.

 

[Mootay]

not likely signs of a male. It’s great that the chick is very energetic, and healthy. I love to get them very energetic! Chicks will stretch all the time. They will extend their neck and open their mouths as you describe for both sexes. It could be something stuck in throat, so might be trying to get it down. Make sure they are drinking water to help get the crumble down. Check for pasty butt, which can happen if they are slightly dehydrated.

Thanks Acre4me! I've been watching for pasty butt. Good to know this stretching is common behavior, she's only my 2nd batch of chick raising, and don't remember seeing this behavior in my 1st batch.