Little Rooster behavior??

[DickGJ]

I recently purchased 14 red pullets (supposedly pullets) from our local TSC here in Sumter. The birds are now 5 weeks old and really filling out nicely. However...

I've got five that face off with each other and put their heads down low "beak to beak" the hackles on the back of their neck are standing up, so me thinks this is roo behavior vice two hens in a "cat fight". When they get tired of staring each other down, they jump up and throw their "spur-bumps" at each other with a clashing of wings. What do y'all think? Roosters right? I should take these back to TSC and release them inside the store.

 

[ARose4Heaven]

Release them in the store!!!!!

I don't think so. Although it is an entertaining thought.

The hatchery where TSC gets the chicks only guarantees 90% gender accuracy. Unfortunately, you may have gotten "lucky" and recieved the 10%. Raise em up and eat em, or advertise and find them a new home.

Post some pics as soon as BYC will let you. (Newbies need to have a few posts under their belt before pic posting is allowed) We should be able to verify for you if they really are roos or just hens being bullies.

 

[schellie69]

first

and they could be roosters or really bossy hens I had mine do this for a while and now they all lay pretty brown eggs might be a pecking order problem also I have some hens that are as bad as roosters I have my flock going through a pecking order change right now and they are doing the flying fighting thing and I know they hens they have been laying of a year now. So I would wait and see.

releasing them into the store might cause a few problems but i would love to video that one.

 

[Fred's Hens]

The behavior is not an indication of the chick's sex.

 

[DickGJ]

I just want to clarify that I am joking about releasing them in the store!

So are you telling me that these face offs, the hackle raising, and the attempt to spur each other can also be accomplished by hens? I should mention that though I've read here on BYC that some hens have large combs...these "guys" have the largest combs of all the others, they are very red, and they're also developing waddles "underneath." I knew that "sexed" chicks are still somewhat of a gamble with a 90% sucess rate, and I should have realized I'd hit the unwanted odds I got since I know that guy "Murphy" all too well...dang I hate his "Law". They're picking on each other and the other hens a lot, so I'm willing to give them away...I have neighbors that will likely not care for all the crowing that will go on. Besides, I don't want to advertise to the neighborhood that I have chickens (though I am allowed per the zoning laws). Just trying to keep young kids/teens at bay from messing with them when I'm not around.

 

[DickGJ]

Very interesting...I'll keep watching them and see what continues to develop. From turkey hunting and such, I thought this activity was clearly a male dominance thing! I'll be quite shocked if they are hens... what a hoot!

 

[Fred's Hens]

First, yes, indeed!!! A pack of pullets will chest bump and compete like nobodies business.

That said, of course they could be roosters. There's no sure thing in sexing and since you bought them from a TSC bin, it is almost assured you are gonna get some. Fact of life. About the only sure and positive way to get hens to buy sex links. Even then ......

 

[DickGJ]

Thanks for the welcome to BYC...and thanks so much for your input thus far! What a wonderful site and forum for us "rookies" and for the experienced folks as well I suppose. Most importantly, is how nice it is to share these experiences and learn from those who started their BYC adventure before us.

 

[ScotianChick]

My 7 week olds are "dueling" each other. I think they are just trying to establish their pecking order. My last batch did this out in the yard until they established their pecking order... and it was before they figured out who was who haha. I also know that my girls are girls and my one cockeral is a boy because I bred some sex links this year

 

[donrae]

Post some pics and we'll help you out.