pullet or cockrel behaviour?

[new_chick_mama]

I would not read anything in that behavior, could be either sex.

I get mixed feelings on the first one, the darker one. The legs look kind of heavy, a sign of a male. The tail is turning down a little, which is a clue it might be a male but some girls can have that. The saddle and hackle feathers look rounded, not pointed, a sign of a girl at that age. The size of the comb and wattles doesn't bother me at that age. The pink instead of bright red is a girl sign. I lean toward girl but would withhold final judgement for a while.

cool thanks... yes they are a mixed bag of surprises!! lol I completely agree about the saddles.. they are flouncy, but not pointy. actually the darker one got super pissy with me today.. has always been sweet but kept trying to attack my hand it if it was anywhere near her. stood my ground, just like with Duckee a few days ago..

 

[new_chick_mama]

No.
Both look like females, combs and wattles would be much redder at that age if they were male.

yes, that's what I thought too.. someone said that when other prominent males are present, it can delay lesser males development? all new to me...

 

[Ebony Rose]

Chest bumping is common with chickens and is used to determine/display dominance and status over another in the flock. Females chest bump females to determine who's going to be top hen. Males chest bump males to determine who's going to be top cock. Females and males also chest bump to determine who gets to pick sides of the 'bed' (haha), no really to determine who's boss over who. That said, males tend to be much more chest bumpy and from a younger age.

 

[new_chick_mama]

Chest bumping is common with chickens and is used to determine/display dominance and status over another in the flock. Females chest bump females to determine who's going to be top hen. Males chest bump males to determine who's going to be top cock. Females and males also chest bump to determine who gets to pick sides of the 'bed' (haha), no really to determine who's boss over who. That said, males tend to be much more chest bumpy and from a younger age.

haha yes, I remember when they started chest bumping at couple weeks or so old. haha I have actually thought about separating males from females.. my largest roo (some age) is generally fine (doesn't chase the girls away from the food)... but when he does get in a mood he clamps down on their neck hard.. almost like a head lock.. not just a quick peck.

 

[Ridgerunner]

my largest roo (some age) is generally fine (doesn't chase the girls away from the food)... but when he does get in a mood he clamps down on their neck hard.. almost like a head lock.. not just a quick peck.

It sounds like you may not have a lot of experience with chickens mating, not sure about that. I'll copy something I wrote a few years ago that might help you.

The rooster dances for a specific hen. He lowers one wing and sort of circles her. This signals his intent.

The hen squats. This gets her body onto the ground so the rooster’s weight goes into the ground through her entire body and not just her legs. That way she can support a much heavier rooster without hurting her joints.

The rooster hops on and grabs the back of her head. The head grab helps him get in the right position to hit the target and helps him to keep his balance, but its major purpose is to tell the hen to raise her tail out of the way to expose the target. A mating will not be successful if she does not raise her tail and expose the target. The head grab is necessary.

The rooster touches vents and hops off. This may be over in the blink of an eye or it may take a few seconds. But when this is over the rooster’s part is done.

The hen then stands up, fluffs up, and shakes. This fluffy shake gets the sperm into a special container inside the hen near where the egg starts its internal journey through her internal egg making factory.

This is typical mating behavior between mature consenting adults. This is an idealized situation, in reality it seldom happens exactly like this. There can be some running away and chasing. Force may be involved. As long as the girl squats and isn't injured it's all normal and natural.

With 17-week-olds you are not dealing with consenting adults. You are dealing with adolescents that often have no control over their hormones, especially the boys. The cockerels normally mature earlier than the pullets and are often driven mad by their hormones. The immature pullets have no idea what is going on so they certainly are not going to cooperate.

At that age most of this is not about sex either. The mating ritual is about dominance. The one on bottom is accepting the dominance of the one on top, either willingly or by force. The cockerel’s hormones are screaming at it to dominate the pullets but the pullets are not ready for that. It takes both to do their part, pullets as well as cockerel.

I'm not sure of what you are seeing but this might help explain about the head grab and some of the other stuff you are seeing or probably soon will see.

 

[new_chick_mama]

It sounds like you may not have a lot of experience with chickens mating, not sure about that. I'll copy something I wrote a few years ago that might help you.

The rooster dances for a specific hen. He lowers one wing and sort of circles her. This signals his intent.

The hen squats. This gets her body onto the ground so the rooster’s weight goes into the ground through her entire body and not just her legs. That way she can support a much heavier rooster without hurting her joints.

The rooster hops on and grabs the back of her head. The head grab helps him get in the right position to hit the target and helps him to keep his balance, but its major purpose is to tell the hen to raise her tail out of the way to expose the target. A mating will not be successful if she does not raise her tail and expose the target. The head grab is necessary.

The rooster touches vents and hops off. This may be over in the blink of an eye or it may take a few seconds. But when this is over the rooster’s part is done.

The hen then stands up, fluffs up, and shakes. This fluffy shake gets the sperm into a special container inside the hen near where the egg starts its internal journey through her internal egg making factory.

This is typical mating behavior between mature consenting adults. This is an idealized situation, in reality it seldom happens exactly like this. There can be some running away and chasing. Force may be involved. As long as the girl squats and isn't injured it's all normal and natural.

With 17-week-olds you are not dealing with consenting adults. You are dealing with adolescents that often have no control over their hormones, especially the boys. The cockerels normally mature earlier than the pullets and are often driven mad by their hormones. The immature pullets have no idea what is going on so they certainly are not going to cooperate.

At that age most of this is not about sex either. The mating ritual is about dominance. The one on bottom is accepting the dominance of the one on top, either willingly or by force. The cockerel’s hormones are screaming at it to dominate the pullets but the pullets are not ready for that. It takes both to do their part, pullets as well as cockerel.

I'm not sure of what you are seeing but this might help explain about the head grab and some of the other stuff you are seeing or probably soon will see.

thanks... he is not doing any on the mating behaviour. she just passes by and he grabs hold for a few seconds, then let's go and goes on his way.

 

[new_chick_mama]

This is one of the pullets, at maybe 10-12 weeks? Totally thought she was a boy. I think this breed is one of the hardest to sex early imo

I just saw this, no idea why I didn't see it warlier.. yes they seem to be!!! beautiful girl, but the way.. ugggg
I've been dealing with aggressive behavior fromtanothwr if the naked necks.. I assumed it was hormones and getting closet to POL... well, lol they now tag teamed and tried to go after the back of my legs as I was stepping out. I said out loud, "oh hell no, you did not!!" I went right back in and when they stretched tall at me, gave each of them a firm peck (with my fingers) those two I can no longer pet, without attutide) im hoping if im consistent, and their hormones settle down, things will get better??