6 weeks old & mature?

[Kalimak]

Hi everyone,

A batch of new chickies hatched 6 weeks ago. Today, amongst them, there's someone crowing, and also one of them squatted when I was reaching to grab her. Is this normal? I'm baffled...My main flock took a good 6 months to squat and mate..I don't know what to make of this, they can't even cluck yet, they still peep.

 

[ChickenJV12]

Hi everyone,

A batch of new chickies hatched 6 weeks ago. Today, amongst them, there's someone crowing, and also one of them squatted when I was reaching to grab her. Is this normal? I'm baffled...My main flock took a good 6 months to squat and mate..I don't know what to make of this, they can't even cluck yet, they still peep.

Pics?

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Crowing at 6 weeks is not so uncommon to be considered abnormal.
The "squat" also is not entirely abnormal and more of a fear reaction (get low and freeze) than the submissive squat for mating

 

[lilmillefleur]

pictures?

 

[Melky]

Maybe speak first before handling so not so skittish. Sounds normal.

 

[Kalimak]

Ok, it makes sense what you guys are saying. If it happens out of fear, I need to approach them differently, though they are semi friendly. Here's a pic of 2 of them, no squatting, but just to put a face on them. The chick on the right (Which I thought is a roo) is the one that squatted this morning.

 

[aart]

The chick on the right (Which I thought is a roo) is the one that squatted this morning.

At 6 weeks that is definitely a male.
Squatting is a submissive behavior......has nothing to do with sex at that age.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Definite cockerel.....

 

[Criticalicious]

Do they and the existing flock interact or see each other? Chickens are social animals; they will learn behaviors from watching other chickens.

 

[Kalimak]

Do they and the existing flock interact or see each other? Chickens are social animals; they will learn behaviors from watching other chickens.

Yes, they're not separated. I keep them all together, except at night, each flock goes to it's house.