how do I spot potential rooster behavior?

[brandichick]

I'm a first time chicken owner. I have 3 chicks, now about 6 and 8 weeks old. Two of them are all of a sudden behaving more
aggressively than I have seen before, facing each other, standing tall and flapping their wings chest to chest. One of them is a Partridge Cochin and seems to be growing a comb. I looked up pictures of mature hens and they seem to have a type of comb on their heads too. Feeling confused and a bit worried.

 

[Judy]

None of that is an indication that your chicks are roosters. Females certainly have combs, and they all can behave that way, especially if they are bored and ready to go outdoors and forage. Markers for sex are quite different with each breed, and even within a breed, to an extent. In the end, crowing or laying an egg are the only certain way to tell.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

None of that is an indication that your chicks are roosters. Females certainly have combs, and they all can behave that way, especially if they are bored and ready to go outdoors and forage. Markers for sex are quite different with each breed, and even within a breed, to an extent. In the end, crowing or laying an egg are the only certain way to tell.

X2 - I would just go ahead and start a thread with pictures in the "What Breed/Gender" forum - at 6-8 weeks old you can start getting some pretty good guesses.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/15/what-breed-or-gender-is-this - this is the forum where you would want to start a thread with pictures of your little ones

 

[brandichick]

Thanks for the info and the advice everyone!