Hen or rooster behavior?

[Chickadee30]

I have 6 chickens, 4 buff orps sold as hens (I forget the terminology) and 2 silkies sold as straight run. The 4 BO have been what I woul consider challenging each other, chest bumping and ruffling up their neck feathers etc. are these just hens working out their peckin order or does it sound like I might have some roosters amongst us? Also they peep like chicks do until today one started to sound like it was straining to cluck. Again maybe they're just going through puberty and findin their voice or maybe it was the beginning of a crow?!? I got them over memorial day wkd and they were about a month old at the time so they are 3-4 months old I'm guesstimating. Thanks!

 

[Chickadee30]

Please disregard the typos. On my phone and it likes to act up. :-/

 

[cafarmgirl]

It is normal for pullets to display this behavior as part of establishing pecking order. If you can post some pic's though we can help you decide if you have some roo's hiding in the mix. At 3-4 mo old any roo's should be showing much more pink in the combs/wattles then the pullets will at the same age.

 

[jrchuba]

My chicks went out in their pen today and are having a blast at establishing their pecking order. It is the roosters that are chest bumping, kicking and jumping over each other with the feathers on the back of their necks all fluffed up. I am fortunate though to have an son who is an AVS student at Clemson U who is in the poultry club and has taught me to tell a roo from hen, at least for the most part. My chicks are 5 going on 6 weeks old not and the roos have pink/red combs, even the p-combs are turning red now. Hope this helps a little.

 

[jrchuba]

Sorry for the typo, that should have been now and not 'not'. The roos have red/pink in their combs already, and my chickens are Bantum Ameraucana's.

 

[ChickNhood]

I say normal behavior...my pullets do the same