Do females ever attack?

[Danielmc]

One of our hens hatched her own egg and raised the chick, and a couple months ago, we introduced them back into the run with the other hens and our cockerel.

Everyone is doing fine and getting along. The baby, who is very cute and doing really great, always had a 'deeper' voice than the others and would make a proper low, thick noise when she was touched, which none of the others do, but I didn't think anything of it.

Yesterday I was in the run changing their water and was petting all of the chickens, including the cockerel (who arguably is the one who likes it the most!). When I petted the baby, she turned around and bit me - really hard, managing to draw some blood! She had lunged for me the other day too, but I didn't think anything of it. Yesterday, she managed to catch me. That's something not even the cockerel does, as he loves getting the area right under his beak rubbed!

Every time I would lower my hand to pet the other chickens, she would go for me.

The cockerel isn't too fond of the boots I use in there, and will sometimes run after it and bite it. Yesterday, the baby did it, too.

This makes me wonder: does this mean that the baby is actually a male? None of our hens have ever acted aggressively AT ALL, so the baby turning around all the time to peck me (and hard), and going after my boots, made me wonder.

But then the weird thing is... when we started out with chickens over a year ago, we knew that two of them were boys VERY quickly because even more developing male-like features, by 2-3 months of age the two boys were fighting a bit. The baby is about to turn five months old and is already the size of the cockerel, yet they have NEVER had any issue whatsoever with each other. The run we have now is much bigger than the one we had before, but they are still in close contact all the time.

Of course, in terms of visual signs, there is nothing that gives the chick away as being a boy (yet anyway) - that's why thus far we've assumed it is a girl, but I don't know if by now it'd be obvious from the looks or not.

Does it sound likely then what we do in fact have two boys now, but that for some reason they get along? Might they still start fighting, or would they have started by now? Yesterday it was almost looking like they were working together to attack my boots...haha.

Thanks!

 

[Bunnylady]

I have had many groups with a dominant rooster and at least one subordinate roo, but they were all obviously boys and there was at least occasional chasing by the dominant bird just to keep those of lesser rank in line. Which is just to say that the fact that the two birds aren't trying to kill each other isn't terribly significant. Most birds are pretty obviously male or female by the time they are 5 months old, though there are a few breeds that I can't be 100% sure until the darned things start either laying or crowing! The larger comb/wattles on a roo may be the first things you notice, but much of the time, the more upright stance and more robust build of the roo may become evident when the birds are still fuzzy chicks. Some colors/patterns look very different on males and females, and of course, the long, pointy hackle/saddle feathers are only found on males.

Over the years, I have had a few cranky hens. I recently lost a bantam Cochin hen that would peck at me almost every time I filled her feeder (can't say I miss her much!) She didn't, like, fly up and try to claw at me, or anything like that, but she was pretty clearly "after" me when she landed the peck on the back of my hand. So, yes, some hens can be pains!

If your bird is about 5 months old, she's right at the point of lay. Within a month, you should know for sure, because you should start seeing those little pullet eggs if she's a she.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Good post, Bunnylady.

Some breeds and just some chickens are hard to sex even at 5 months. If you could post a photo we might be able to make some good guesses but they may just be guesses. What are important is a head shot in profile showing comb and wattles. But also a full body shot, again from the side or front quarter showing legs and general body conformation. At that age, saddle and hackle feathers could be a dead giveaway. Some cockerels are hen-feathered though. It’s really rare but even the feathers are not a clear sign. Generally it is pretty easy to say that is definitely a male, but it is sometimes harder to say that is definitely a female.

I especially agree on the lack of fighting not being a great clue. When they are raised together like that, there is often little conflict, especially while the younger one has not yet reached enough maturity to make a real challenge. A very quick intimidation by the older rooster may be all it takes. You may or may not see that it can happen and be over so quickly.

You may have to wait until an egg to know it is a pullet, but at 5 months the behavioral clue I’d look for is whether or not that chicken is trying to mate the hens. I’d expect to see that behavior from a male more than fighting at that age.

 

[gootziecat]

I once had a pullet run across the coop and attack, while I was trying to put a legband on her friend that was protesting.

 

[Danielmc]

Thanks everyone. Here is a photo, best I can do this morning. It is kind of a good one as it shows the entire family lineage too! Baby is at the top, father is at the bottom, and the mother is either the middle one or the top right one (the one who raised the chick is the middle one).


Full size https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/45181_10151486110506218_338325126_n.jpg

Any ideas based on the photo?

 

[Mac14]

Just saw the pic, and I have no idea!

 

[chickengeorgeto]

... Some breeds and just some chickens are hard to sex even at 5 months. If you could post a photo we might be able to make some good guesses but they may just be guesses.

Go on and guess, you've got a 50-50 chance of being right.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Yep, a 50% chance. It can be hard to get a decent photo. Mine seem to think a camera is something evil out to do away with them.

The head looks female; comb, wattles and just general shape. I can’t tell if those hackle feathers are pointed or not. Maybe someone with better eyes and monitor can tell.

I’d really like to see the saddle and tail better but I can’t see any saddle feathers there and by 5 month s you should be seeing some on a cockerel. Tail development looks like a pullet. How heavy the legs are is another big clue I look for but can’t see them.

I think pullet but not 100% sure. But more than 50%.

 

[Happy Chooks]

I think it's a pullet.

I have been bitten by far more pullets than cockerels. I haven't tried this with one your age, but when the 6-8 week old pullets bite my hand, I take my index finger and tap them on the head (like a peck) until they back down. I've never had one bite me after doing that, though on stubborn girl did take 4 "pecks" before she backed down.