Roo behavior? and ID

[BowChickaBowMow]

I think my chicks are about 7wks old now. We ordered all pullets... but obviously have one beautiful cockerel for sure! (he even crowed loudly for the first time this morning once we put them out in the run)

The behaviors in question are.... we're not sure if there are more boys. We have a couple chicks (haven't crowed but sounds like they're trying) but they run and ram their chests into the roo... w/ their head feather's all spiked up. Are they just aggressive pullets? Or is that roo type behaviors?

Also... I read that roo's have a claw or something like that on the back of their legs? When do they develop this? And If there's a bump there now.... does that mean it's a boy? Or do the girls have a bump there too, that just doesn't grow into a claw (or whatever it is)?

I hope that rambling makes some sense to someone!

TIA!

 

[mmajw]

Some hens can develop small bumps like that too. On a Roo it is a Spur.
Can you post pics of the ones you have questions about most people on here would be able to help you identify of they are Roos or not with pics?

 

[BowChickaBowMow]

Quote:
I'll try! If I can get the kids to help(my older two helpers are feelin' under the weather) , I'll try to get a photo of each chick in question, and of their leg w/ possible spur. Wish me luck!

As the younger children aren't very efficient at rounding up chicks and holding them for me to be able to take photos! It should be quite a chaotic scene! Maybe I should video it!!!! I've been wanting to put leg bands on them though, so this would be a good opportunity to do that as well!

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

OH Yes video would be amusing!

I want to see people running around after chickens trying to catch them!

 

[BowChickaBowMow]

(new, less blurry photo) here's one of the chicks

And here's a leg for ID purposes.

I'll try to get the rest.. but not sure what else to do.

Any guess on sex?

Also.. isn't there something w/ size/color of legs? As I was banding them I noticed some of them had darker legs than others... and some thick and other thin. Anyone know what makes for ID for each sex?

 

[BowChickaBowMow]

chick #2 "Poppy"

and it's leg

 

[BowChickaBowMow]

chick 3 (my observations: this one's legs seem to be shorter than chick 2, plus not so reddish on top of beak)

and leg band

 

[BowChickaBowMow]

chick 4, "li'l chick" (named by 8yo, though it's kinda big compared to the rest now, maybe need a name change) a beautiful BO (one of the larger ones w/ fuller comb and more color)

and leg band

 

[BowChickaBowMow]

chick 5 "Lola" (12 yo named her) another beautiful BO (smaller, most petite of the 3, paler comb too)

and leg band

 

[BowChickaBowMow]

chick 6 "Poppy" (named by 4yo) (another brighter comb, but not as full as the definite cockerel, which this one fights with)

and leg band