California - Northern

[jeremy]

Ron, I think it's hilarious how naked the Reds are in their "awkward juvie stage", I didn't think my cockerels were EVER going to grow in their feathers completely. We processed one cockerel at around 8 months old and he had just barely begun to grow in his tail!

 

[Disco Hen]

They both look like cockerels to me, Leghorns are pretty easy to sex early on because of their comb development.

Ya, but females get very big combs

 

[jeremy]

Ya, but females get very big combs

True, but not that early. Nor would they be that red either.

 

[zooweemama]

Chest butting? I have seen my Buff Orps do a weird chest butt thing sometimes? Is that normal? And the tailless Buff Orp- the breeder said that's a cockerel. Oh my goodness he sure does carry himself differently than the girls. He stands more up right and he is the bossiest chick in the bunch so far.

 

[ronott1]

Ron, I think it's hilarious how naked the Reds are in their "awkward juvie stage", I didn't think my cockerels were EVER going to grow in their feathers completely. We processed one cockerel at around 8 months old and he had just barely begun to grow in his tail!

Yes, I had them in a covered brooder and could not see him too well. I moved them into one with a clear lid and when I opened reached in to get him I was shocked to see what he had turned into. He lost all of the nice fuzz and had irregular dark brown feathers. It gave me a bit of a start.

Ron

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Chest butting? I have seen my Buff Orps do a weird chest butt thing sometimes? Is that normal? And the tailless Buff Orp- the breeder said that's a cockerel. Oh my goodness he sure does carry himself differently than the girls. He stands more up right and he is the bossiest chick in the bunch so far.

Our babies liked to do what we called a "chicken bomb"! They would jump/fly up and land on a selected victim. When a little older, they also did the chest butting, with hackle feathers raised. All just part of establishing the pecking order.

We didn't know we had a roo so early, but I remember as a chick "he" would just push everyone out of the way and was the first "chicken bombers."

 

[Disco Hen]

True, but not that early. Nor would they be that red either.

Right!

 

[zooweemama]

Our babies liked to do what we called a "chicken bomb"! They would jump/fly up and land on a selected victim. When a little older, they also did the chest butting, with hackle feathers raised. All just part of establishing the pecking order.

We didn't know we had a roo so early, but I remember as a chick "he" would just push everyone out of the way and was the first "chicken bombers."

Hilarious! I couldn't believe what I was seeing! Look like 2 teen boys fighting over a girl. LOL

 

[zooweemama]

Ron, I think it's hilarious how naked the Reds are in their "awkward juvie stage", I didn't think my cockerels were EVER going to grow in their feathers completely. We processed one cockerel at around 8 months old and he had just barely begun to grow in his tail!

8 months- is that how long it takes the average chicken to reach a butchering size? Broilers/fryers grow faster I assume. Pekin ducks are ready for processing by 7 weeks old. My Pekin ducks were like 8 pounds by then. (I didnt process them though. they are my buddies) Meat chickens mature much faster than months right?

 

[zooweemama]

Oh my goodness! Talk about pecking order squabbles. The Buff cockerel and the Marans with less feathers on her feet are constantly fighting now. Dive bombing each other, facing off and chest butting. Do only cockerels/roosters do this or do hens also?