How do I know if I have 4 roosters?

[MendonMan]

I have two Buff Orps and two Barred Rocks. All were day olds when received and "supposed to be" hens. I've since had another person who raises chicks for years to tell me they are hens.

They are now 13 weeks old.

All 4 have modest/very small comb development. One rock has slightly more than the others. But they all do things to me that are rooster-like.

They are kept in a pen during the day and when I get home I let them out or out into a poultry-netted area. They are a bit stir-crazy. The first thing they do is flap around, jumping up and down. I expect this.

While they peck around and scratch if one finds something the other of the same breed will typically charge over. The two buffs will be scratching around and suddenly come upon one another and rear up, their neck feather flared and sometimes kick up.

The rock with the slightly bigger comb typically will chase the other rock for a few seconds.

No physical injury has come of this stuff.

It's just that when I see two chickens rear up flared like a lion, I think of a cock fight!

I supposed I could post some photos for people to look at and see if they can still be sexed.

Any ideas? I see none of this behaviors in the several chicken books I purchased. I'm looking for eggs in 9 weeks, not giving them away on Craigslist.

Thanks,

Charles

 

[sourland]

Pullets do this same mock fighting. What you are describing is nothing more than exuberance as a result of having been given their freedom after being cooped up. Pictures would enable a chance at sexing. To guess anything else would be just that - a guess.

 

[DanEP]

sounds like pecking order stuff and yes the girls do this also.At 13 weeks old you should be able to see the roo's if you have any, roos at that age should have fairly large combs and waddles coming in.
The pecking order comes into play with just 2 chickens and things will settle down once they settle it but this may take another few months as it will keep changing as they grow. As long as nobody is really getting hurt as in bleeding leave them alone and let them work it out by interfering you just prolong the process and it will take longer for things to settle down.You should also remember that some chasing and pecking will always be going on as the girls try to climb the pecking order ladder and are put in their place by the higher girls but once the order is set things will settle down. This is just life as a chickens and they understand this far better than we ever will.

Good luck with your girls Dan

 

[Red Barn Farms]

Yep the girl chickens also act that way, even to the males. We have 20 in our flock and they act just as you described. I also question rather I might have three roosters from the four buff orpingtons I purchased. Three of them have nice sized wattles and combs. The third and also the smallest of the bunch still has little comb and no wattle at all.

Yes, try adding a very images to look at.