Is this typical Roo behavior?

[fasschicks]

We have 10-week-old Favaucana chicks. We know that some of them are roos. I caught this picture last night when I let the chicks out after the big girls went in. These 2 hunched down and ruffled their hackles and then both jumped in the air "attacking" with their feet. Is this typical roo behavior or could one of these still be a girl?

This is our first time raising chicks and have never had any roos before, so we are learning their behaviors as they grow up.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Folly's place]

Pullets will also square off like that, but the bird on the right does look like a cockrel to me. Cute! Mary

 

[fasschicks]

Thanks, Mary! Sorry I didn't respond sooner -- internet connection issues.

Yeah, I thought that the one on the right was a roo. I know for sure the one on the left is. He is crowing up a storm now. The girls seem to have a different style of fighting (at least that is what it seems). They stand up more and ruffle up their scruffs.

I am never going to make the mistake of doing straight runs again...Lesson Learned! I have 10 birds that were straight run and it appears I got the short end of the stick. I honestly think there are only 2 girls in the entire group. Ughhh.

Thanks again for your thoughts.

 

[girlsnammo]

Don't feel bad I got 8 in a straight run and 5 are roo's.

 

[fasschicks]

Bummer! We had to cull the 1 rooster last night because he was so loud and it disrupted the neighbors. Now, I have 2 more roosters starting to crow this morning. I know 1 of them, but will have to spy and see who the other one is. Again...lesson learned on straight run. Thanks for the responses!

 

[donrae]

See those reddish patches on the wings of your two boys in the picture? That's a sure rooster sign, so you don't have to actually see them crowing to tell who is male. Just look for those red patches.

 

[fasschicks]

Yeah, that is kind of what I had thought, but was afraid that if there was a small reddish patch that it still might be a girl. I have so few girls out of this group, I was afraid to cull one that potentially wasn't a roo. We are trying to wait several weeks right now to fatten them up. But, if they start to crow, they must go.

I have one amazing 10-week old roo that hasn't crowed yet. He is a faithful watcher of our flock of 17 chicks. At night, he makes sure each and every chick is ushered into the coop. He won't leave until they are safe. I just wish there was such a thing as a rooster who doesn't crow.

Thanks, donrae!