Bully chick maybe a rooster?

[sdaikus]

What's your guess?

She's very bossy, kinda mean and flys around a lot! I'm hoping she's just a dominant female, but I don't think so..

I'm curious to see what you all think

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

How old is this bird? I do think you have a cockerel on your hands - there are three rows of peas showing very clearly.

 

[sdaikus]

I thought so.. He/she is 5 weeks

 

[Chicken Girl1]

How old is this bird? I do think you have a cockerel on your hands - there are three rows of peas showing very clearly.

x2 that is a pretty defined comb for 5 weeks .

 

[sdaikus]

He/she is aggressive .. Should I separate? She hasn't hurt any of them yet. She just seems very rough.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

He/she is aggressive .. Should I separate? She hasn't hurt any of them yet. She just seems very rough.

What is he doing that is aggressive? Chicken society is not a gentle society - and to our eyes their "normal" behaviors can seem unacceptable.

 

[sdaikus]

Haha this is very true! I guess I'm just a wuss.

He is jumping on their backs, pecks at their faces and chases them around like a mad man.

@Ol Grey Mare

 

[donrae]

If you didn't intend to keep a rooster, I vote to get rid of him. No reason to keep a male bird just cause you got an Oops.

If you decide to keep him, he's fine to stay in the flock, but you need to be sure everyone has lots of space. And keep in mind, he'll be sexually mature a good month before your pullets are, so there can be some distressing attempts at mating.

 

[sdaikus]

thanks for the info!

 

[speckledhen]

Bullies do come in both sexes and unless blood is really drawn, he would be okay. Pecking order can seem pretty savage as they learn and establish their ranks, but yeah, it's a cockerel. If you don't want one, don't keep him. I love my roosters, but unless you want to breed and have to figure what to do with extra males every time chicks hatch, no need to have one, necessarily.