Houdan running up to other chicks and staring them down?

[ChickenThunderdome]

All of our chicks will be 6 weeks old on Monday. They were put in their new coop and run yesterday and this morning they all eventually climbed down into the run. I've noticed a certain behavior from one Houdan.. He or she will run up to other chicks as fast as he/she can and stop and stare them in the face.

If I could describe it.. Literally playing a game of chicken and then staring down the other chickens with his neck jutted out and feathers standing straight out.

I this just a pecking order thing or do we likely have a cockerel?

 

[azygous]

At this age, it's likely just a chick wanting to interact with another chick.

However, it can be a sign of a precocious cockerel. I've had a chick this age actually crow out a squeaky crow, tidbit to the other chicks, and it turned out to be a cockerel.

If the comb and wattles are more pronounced and more red than the others, it's a cockerel.

 

[debid]

Sounds like normal chick behavior to me. Both sexes practice charging, flaring hackles, jumping at each other, standing tall, etc. It's all normal as long as there is no damage being done.

 

[ChickenThunderdome]

Thanks to you both. We are first time chicken owners quite obviously.

 

[wvchickenchick311]

Might be a rooster but my chicks do that all the time.

 

[Chickassan]

Just baby fighting lol! Nice user name btw...two chickens enter...one chicken leaves!