Aggressive chick...is she a he?

[SlatyGapSis]

I have seventeen 5.5 week old chicks and I have a feeling Riversong is a roo. She had a growth spurt around week three and was significantly larger than the rest. The others have pretty well caught up at this point but based on things I’ve read here and elsewhere online, here are the factors that make me think SHE might be a HE.
1- Bossy; River is very bossy, pecks at the other chicks (just once, she’s not obsessive) if they startle the others or get too rambunctious.
2 - Protective; River is always the first one into the coop to check it out, then back into the run until everyone else is in for the night. Also been known to sit on the ladder blocking the others from coming out again until I come out to close the hatch.
3 - Comb is pinker than the others, but not by much.
4 - Her feet are huge. They seem twice as big as my (assumed) Orpington. May be perspective.
I’m holding out hope that’s she’s just top of the pecking order.
Give it to me straight.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Aggressiveness in chicks in no indication of gender. I see pullets chest bump each other all the time.
The larger size, bigger feet, longer legs is an indicator of maleness.

 

[Below frigid]

I agree with canoe, feet and legs are roo signs, but with your chicks being different breeds it could be just genetics. A few more weeks and you should have a better ideal.

 

[BreanneRN]

Well, 5 1/2 weeks is a little early to tell, I would look for wattle development and hackle, saddle, and sickle tail feathers coming in... She might be a roo, or maybe just a dominant teenage "mean girl". Comb does look a little red, but in the absence of a rooster, the dominant hen will do that... In another month you should know for sure... Either way, she/he sounds like a great chicken to hold onto and is quite pretty. Another tell would be if she finds things to eat and calls others over to share. That is rooster behavior, unless the hen has baby chicks... Hens will grab and eat, they don't usually share. Are all 17 of your chicks supposed to be pullets? Having no roosters in the mix as well as having different breeds makes it harder to tell if it is just individual variation or a developing cockerel. If I had to guess, and it is just a guess, I would say you have a precocious pullet.

 

[Mybackyardpeepers]

My pullets were acting just like roosters, they challenge for pecking order young.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I agree with canoe, feet and legs are roo signs, but with your chicks being different breeds it could be just genetics. A few more weeks and you should have a better ideal.

Good call. I didn't catch that they were different breeds. You can't judge physical characteristics between different breeds if looking for sex determination.
I once had a bunch of same age chicks of various breeds and was convinced my one and only cochin was a pullet till about 5 months.
I now only raise a single breed and can tell boys from girls by about 3 weeks.

 

[Below frigid]

Good call. I didn't catch that they were different breeds. You can't judge physical characteristics between different breeds if looking for sex determination.
I once had a bunch of same age chicks of various breeds and was convinced my one and only cochin was a pullet till about 5 months.
I now only raise a single breed and can tell boys from girls by about 3 weeks.

I have 7 chicks right now. Different hens and different roos in the mix, 4 look alike and 3 not so much. Easter Olive Eggers, Black Copper marans Isbar and other possibilities. Lol.

 

[SlatyGapSis]

Aggressiveness in chicks in no indication of gender. I see pullets chest bump each other all the time.
The larger size, bigger feet, longer legs is an indicator of maleness.

That is so good to know, thank you!

I agree with canoe, feet and legs are roo signs, but with your chicks being different breeds it could be just genetics. A few more weeks and you should have a better ideal.

I know I should have just waited but patience is not one of my virtues!

Well, 5 1/2 weeks is a little early to tell, I would look for wattle development and hackle, saddle, and sickle tail feathers coming in... She might be a roo, or maybe just a dominant teenage "mean girl". Comb does look a little red, but in the absence of a rooster, the dominant hen will do that... In another month you should know for sure... Either way, she/he sounds like a great chicken to hold onto and is quite pretty. Another tell would be if she finds things to eat and calls others over to share. That is rooster behavior, unless the hen has baby chicks... Hens will grab and eat, they don't usually share. Are all 17 of your chicks supposed to be pullets? Having no roosters in the mix as well as having different breeds makes it harder to tell if it is just individual variation or a developing cockerel. If I had to guess, and it is just a guess, I would say you have a precocious pullet.

Yes, Riversong was my favorite from the day they arrived. She was this fluffy ball of silver tipped yellow fluff and so unique looking. She isn’t as keen on me but I think we having a griffin mutual respect and we recognize each other’s “voice”. I’m grateful for her protective tendencies, since these are my first chicks and she seems to have a handle on what to do. This group was a Cackle Hatchery “rainbow assortment”, supposed to be all female. Lots of different feather colors as well as different egg colors. Could be exotics, could be leghorns but guaranteed to have at least three different breeds. I think I’ve keyed out five barred rocks, one buff Orpington, one Rhode Island Red, a couple of Austra Whites and some Easter Eggers. No earthly idea what Riversong is. ‍

My pullets were acting just like roosters, they challenge for pecking order young.

Thank you for sharing your experience! I’m hoping these girls are doing the same!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

That is so good to know, thank you!

I know I should have just waited but patience is not one of my virtues!
...

Patience IS a virtue.
And I want it NOW!!!

 

[crazy4ChickensNducks]

A lot of times the pullets are the aggressive ones and the cockerels the snuggly friendly ones, I say pullet, but I would wait at least 2 more weeks