Are my baby chickens actually roosters?

[katanne555]

I have 4 baby White Plymouth Rock chicks. They are about 9 days old. When they first came, they behaved like regular chicks. Now they are starting to try and fight eachother. Does this mean that some are roosters, or is this natural chick behavior? I haven't had chicks for 2-3 years so I'm not sure if this means anything or not. Is there any way to tell for sure if my chicks are male or female?

 

[laceynoelle]

Sometimes hens fight, could you post some pics? Or is it too early to tell visually? It could just be normal chicken behavior, I have a brood that was always having little (non serious) fights, and the majority of them turned out to be grumpy hens.

 

[katanne555]

It's pretty hard to tell visually if they're roosters are not, since they're still pretty young. I have just been looking at their behavior to maybe see if some seem bossier than others. Hopefully i will be able to tell easier as they grow older

 

[PineShavings]

They could also be hens, my hens fight for a couple seconds probably to reestablish the pecking order. I love those Nature shows and in the wild baby birds would pick on another so they can get more food, but it's probably a natural behavior.

 

[TXchickmum]

-don't think it has anything to do with gender particularly. We have feisty bantam hens that will jump up and kick one another from time to time. They face off, throw up their neck feathers, then briefly spar. They never hurt one another, and it is almost as if they are just playing around. They are hilarious! -will chase one another around the lawn and hide in various perennial beds, then dart off after one another again. I haven't a clue why they do this sort of thing. They get along well, and will forage on the lawn, eat at the feeder, and roost right next to one another. They always stay together in their little group.

 

[katanne555]

Thank you for helping me hopefully my chicks are just play fighting

 

[donrae]

Fighting/chest bumping is normal for both genders.

 

[yardbird53]

My month old EE chicks have started doing the chest bump with each other too. Reminds me of the football players after they make a good play!

 

[realsis]

Mybaby girls are chest bumping every morning!! They are establishing the pecking order.its normal for both sexes.

 

[Naptownsurfgirl]

Ok I feel better. Maybe I have all all pullets. They are doing the face off with each other. It’s so funny!!! I can’t get it on camera yet!!!

They are about a month now. Hoping for pullets but one of them is much bigger than the others with very thick legs.