Am I going nuts? Bantam chick “crowing”?

[newchickychick]

Editing in video from another chick, same age and behavior!

SILLY little guys!


I need to try to catch it on video, but I kept hearing this sound from the garage and I went to go check. It was this tiny, high-pitched “bree-dee-dee” sort of sound from a very pink combed Bantam we’ve got. We got them on May 24th, and I’m FAIRLY certain they arrived to TSC that day.
So that makes them a little over 3 weeks old. The Bantam in question pulled his shoulders back and leaned his head forward just like our crowing cockerels outside do, and looked quite like he was trying (and failing…) to crow. Is that even possible? Or is something going on with him health wise? None of the babies are showing any signs of health issues, and were all joyfully playing around their brooder. They were all quite spread out, so not cold and there’s definitely some under the heat lamp so not too cold either.

Is it possible he’s just older since he already has a very pink comb? Can they even crow so early? He made the noise like four times before scampering off to play with some of the others. Though those chicks really weren’t there the day before and were tiny as could be when we brought them home, so I’m leaning towards doubting they were too much older than a couple days old.

It’s certainly precious! And he seems happy as a clam. But I didn’t think it was possible for cockerels to crow so early. (Or well, attempt to in his case…) though he certainly has quite a pink comb! He’s always “on the lookout” when anyone comes into the garage and gives everyone a good once-over before returning to whatever he’s doing. Mega early bloomer? Or could there be something going on with him and he’s not trying to crow? Or do Bantams really just develop super early?

This was him just about last week - the black one! Don’t have a good pic without the red lighting at the moment but will take another later.

 

[Sc_chickengirl]

I had a OEGB chick start crowing when it was 5 weeks old. But yeah that's a little early.

 

[newchickychick]

I had a OEGB chick start crowing when it was 5 weeks old. But yeah that's a little early.

It seems like it for sure! He looked SO pleased with himself too, as much as a chick can. Puffed up a bit and looked at me, cheeped, came over to see if I brought goodies, then turned tail and scurried to play when he realized I didn’t in fact bring chickie tribute. He’s got a heck of a lot of personality already.

Not even our 6 week old standards are crowing yet (took ours outside until about 8 weeks and some still aren’t), so I was just downright baffled. The first time I thought it was a fluke, but he kept doing it and I was finally certain I wasn’t imagining him doing it. But just can’t figure out how on earth he would be crowing if he is! I even checked his crop to make sure nothing was stuck and he wasn’t making a distress noise. Nothing felt off with that either!

Truly puzzled. It is THE squeakiest but most confident noise I’ve ever heard out of a chick.

 

[Sc_chickengirl]

It seems like it for sure! He looked SO pleased with himself too, as much as a chick can. Puffed up a bit and looked at me, cheeped, came over to see if I brought goodies, then turned tail and scurried to play when he realized I didn’t in fact bring chickie tribute. He’s got a heck of a lot of personality already.

Not even our 6 week old standards are crowing yet (took ours outside until about 8 weeks and some still aren’t), so I was just downright baffled. The first time I thought it was a fluke, but he kept doing it and I was finally certain I wasn’t imagining him doing it. But just can’t figure out how on earth he would be crowing if he is! I even checked his crop to make sure nothing was stuck and he wasn’t making a distress noise. Nothing felt off with that either!

Truly puzzled. It is THE squeakiest but most confident noise I’ve ever heard out of a chick.

That's cute Those little cockerels can be such little sassies.

 

[newchickychick]

That's cute Those little cockerels can be such little sassies.

They can be! My goodness, Bantams are proving to be so boisterous for their small sizes even at such a young age. Maybe the batch was just sent a bit older from the hatchery, but all the other Bantams seem to be growing at the same rate. Perhaps just an eternal puzzle! But nothing at all seems to be wrong at least. I’ll keep an eye on them though in case there’s something that could be wrong.

But gracious he sure seemed to be giving it his all. I’m hoping he turns out to be a gentleman because he’s one precious little thing.

 

[Pigeony]

I had a 3 DAY old chick start crowing, so crowing at 3 weeks old is not unheard of.

 

[newchickychick]

I had a 3 DAY old chick start crowing, so crowing at 3 weeks old is not unheard of.

Oh my gracious, talk about an over achiever chick! Well I’m REALLY relieved to know they’re likely as okay as they seem.

 

[Pigeony]

Oh my gracious, talk about an over achiever chick! Well I’m REALLY relieved to know they’re likely as okay as they seem.

Yeah it was actually really funny to see this little fuzzball stand up all tall and proud, then throw his teeny head back and make a noise that sounded more like you stepped on a squeaky toy than a rooster . I've heard some people say they've caught chicks crowing in the incubator lol, some boys just want the whole world to know asap.

 

[newchickychick]

It was downright impossible to get a pic of him standing still. The chicks are SUPER busy with their work this morning (kicking bedding into their feeders).

Yeah it was actually really funny to see this little fuzzball stand up all tall and proud, then throw his teeny head back and make a noise that sounded more like you stepped on a squeaky toy than a rooster . I've heard some people say they've caught chicks crowing in the incubator lol, some boys just want the whole world to know asap.

It was SUPER evident he was a he pretty early in, but even still the crow just stunned me. He sure is proud of himself!
Also caught him “correcting” another chick (Bantam Cochin)? It pecked another chick and pulled at a feather. The other chick let out a panic chirp and before I could intervene to gently correct the Cochin, this guy pecked the Cochin and shooed it away from the chick it upset. The Cochin then went to join our diggy diggy hole crew (tasked with journeying to the center of the earth [bottom of the brooder]). They really are curious little things.

 

[Grandmas Coop]

I need to try to catch it on video, but I kept hearing this sound from the garage and I went to go check. It was this tiny, high-pitched “bree-dee-dee” sort of sound from a very pink combed Bantam we’ve got. We got them on May 24th, and I’m FAIRLY certain they arrived to TSC that day.
So that makes them a little over 3 weeks old. The Bantam in question pulled his shoulders back and leaned his head forward just like our crowing cockerels outside do, and looked quite like he was trying (and failing…) to crow. Is that even possible? Or is something going on with him health wise? None of the babies are showing any signs of health issues, and were all joyfully playing around their brooder. They were all quite spread out, so not cold and there’s definitely some under the heat lamp so not too cold either.

Is it possible he’s just older since he already has a very pink comb? Can they even crow so early? He made the noise like four times before scampering off to play with some of the others. Though those chicks really weren’t there the day before and were tiny as could be when we brought them home, so I’m leaning towards doubting they were too much older than a couple days old.

It’s certainly precious! And he seems happy as a clam. But I didn’t think it was possible for cockerels to crow so early. (Or well, attempt to in his case…) though he certainly has quite a pink comb! He’s always “on the lookout” when anyone comes into the garage and gives everyone a good once-over before returning to whatever he’s doing. Mega early bloomer? Or could there be something going on with him and he’s not trying to crow? Or do Bantams really just develop super early?

This was him just about last week - the black one! Don’t have a good pic without the red lighting at the moment but will take another later.
View attachment 4149415

Most likely something was stuck in his very tine throat- this is why they need crumbles feed and as much as I dont like purnia, the chick feed dissolves well and is small--could have been wood flake