Cockerels - or just playing?

[FirstTimeClucky]

I have three Silkie chicks, one is about 8 weeks old and the others are 6 weeks. Recently I've noticed that in the mornings, the two little ones like to play with each other. They face off, aim a few half hearted pecks at each other, then they bump chests and kick at each other. They do it for a minute or so, then they stop and go back to scratching and pecking right next to each other. There's no chasing or other sign of aggression. So far I haven't seen the bigger one participating in these "bouts", but he/she is almost twice the size of the little ones.

Their play reminds me of the way roosters fight, so I'm wondering if this means they're cockerels? Or do all chicks play in this way at their age? One of them is quite outgoing and bold when it comes to checking out new things, and the other is the shyest of the three and burrows underneath the other two when I put my hands in their pen.

Could this type of play escalate to fighting?

 

[SueT]

Both male and female chicks play like this...

 

[thatdude]

could be hens establishing/restablishing the pecking order ive seen hybrid layers do it.

 

[FirstTimeClucky]

Both male and female chicks play like this...

That's good to know! I was enjoying watching the little fuzzballs play, until it occurred to me this morning that it was similar to roosters fighting.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I have three Silkie chicks, one is about 8 weeks old and the others are 6 weeks. Recently I've noticed that in the mornings, the two little ones like to play with each other. They face off, aim a few half hearted pecks at each other, then they bump chests and kick at each other. They do it for a minute or so, then they stop and go back to scratching and pecking right next to each other. There's no chasing or other sign of aggression. So far I haven't seen the bigger one participating in these "bouts", but he/she is almost twice the size of the little ones.

Their play reminds me of the way roosters fight, so I'm wondering if this means they're cockerels? Or do all chicks play in this way at their age? One of them is quite outgoing and bold when it comes to checking out new things, and the other is the shyest of the three and burrows underneath the other two when I put my hands in their pen.

Could this type of play escalate to fighting?

Good morning, welcome to BYC!

It's true that both genders will chest bump, though boys are often more apt to it. I have had a female or two that were quite aggressive at first and made me wonder... come to think of it, turned out to be a boy. It is basically a way to practice for future bouts in their life just like puppies, bears, or any other animal. So yes it COULD lead to future fights, or it might not. Everything will depend on the individuals. At 13 weeks old I had a couple Silkie boys I had to break up a few times yesterday.

In my Sillkies, they boys are often much larger than the females. And the female would be the most likely to burrow under flock mates. Sadly (or maybe not), there are no hard rules when it comes to chickens though... other than a rooster will not lay an egg. But hens can crow and grow spurs even though it is less common. And roosters DO egg sing, when they get startled or along with the hens sometimes. Interesting that the big one is the one that doesn't participate.

Most recently, I raised about 14 Silkies. If they are all the same gender it could be a lot trickier... but feeling the combs for comparison can give you a good clue. Females have almost nothing. With this experience, I don't see how people say even breeders have a hard time sexing Silkies up to 6 months or longer. That was true for me when they were all the same gender (3 females). In my experience, the boys tend to band together throughout the day (at this early stage) while the females seem SLIGHTLY more independent. I have had some bold/curious females in my sexed feed store chick groups, but usually those are the males in my mixed groups. Does this help your confusion?!

Hey, pics are always welcome!!

 

[FirstTimeClucky]

I checked for combs, but so far none of them have even a hint of comb. If anything, their foreheads are concave. I know that Silkies have walnut combs. Now that they're getting bigger, they're more used to being handled. I've been handling them every day.

I was able to get some pics of them at last! I have some from when I first got them, lots of pics of blurs.

I think of this one as male, just because he's a lot bolder than the other two. He's always the first to approach a new object in their pen. I believe he's a partridge cuckoo. He has the banded feathers on his butt. I like the "racing stripes" around his eyes.

Here are the other two. The one on the left (partridge?) is the bigger one.

Here's the bold one again, checking out the camera. He looks like he'd make a good muppet!

Here they are together. The white one is very skittish, so no solo photos of him/her. The one on the left is the older, bigger one. Her head feathers are starting to grow over her eyes.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

So cute! Yep the racing stripes are pretty cool.

Your bigger one is sporting pretty blue earlobes. I would be on the look out for any reddish or bright feathers coming in, and suspicious boy. But if it's 2 weeks older, bigger would be normal.

And oh my, yes that is the funniest mustache I've seen on a chicken in pic #3. Your bold one appears female to me, not much earlobe, comb, or waddles. But hard to make comparison if there is a two week age difference.

The white one is sporting a good sized comb, and a nice tall stance.. if the earlobes are also nicely visible.. then I suspect boy for this one.

6-8 weeks is still pretty young. And sometimes they suddenly show their boy gender over night. It probably won't be too long before you can get it pinned down pretty good. I've got some of the cutest little crowing Silkies at 10-11 weeks and 1 silkie boy trying to mate hens at 13 weeks (comb significantly developed by this age). Some are gentle while another will bite my daughter and leave whelps (she's 18, so she can deal with it).

Our first 3 straight run Silkies were all girls. 2nd set of 10, had 4 girls and 6 boys, 3rd set of 4 equaled Karma for our first set and they are all boys. So 7 out of 17. My own personal hatches excel at boys even worse though. My average is 2 females out of 9 chicks BOTH times I hatched SFH and FBCM or 4 girls to 14 boys if you will.

Yours are awfully cute, hope the numbers are in your favor this go around! I couldn't fathom being lucky enough to get all girls the first time... but it can happen. Thanks for sharing your adventure!

 

[SueT]

So adorable!!!
Please update this thread as the sexes are revealed!!

 

[FirstTimeClucky]

I've been looking them over for the past couple of days. The good news is that, after a couple of alarm calls and some wing flapping when I first pick them up, they're settling down and putting up with my (wo)manhandling. They seem to like being carried around and getting a chance to look around.

I had a good look at the white one. His earlobes are starting to look bluish, but not as bright as the big one's ears. I couldn't find a comb on him, but I did notice he's got a much larger bald patch just above his beak compared to the other two. I've checked all of them for combs and felt their heads, but their heads feel concave. They are all growing new pin feathers now, so that bald patch might change.

It looks like I'll end up with at least one rooster. I was anticipating this when I first got them anyway. Do the no-crow rooster collars work on Silkies? I've watched YouTube videos of roosters wearing the collars, but none of them were Silkies. I know the collars don't totally silence the crowing, they just make it less loud.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I would imagine the no crow collar of the right size would work on any bird.

I have read mixed reviews on them, specifically stating be careful not to cause injury.

Right now in my set, I can tell some of the Silkie boys will be just as big or more of jerks than some of the full sized boys. And some were crowing as early as 10 weeks with another trying to mate by 12-13.

Also, some of my Silkie girls are the LOUDEST in my flock! You wouldn't expect it from such cute little fluff balls. Some of ours really do enjoy being carried around. And they even come running when you call their name!