Roo behavior

[Deannep36]

I have 6 10 week old chicks that I think are showing sings of being boys instead of girls. They challenge each other and fluff up their neck feathers and also sometimes bump chests when they do this. Please tell me I'm wrong and that girls do this too.

Deanne

 

[andorraclaim]

All young chicks play "chicken", even the girls.

 

[dancingbear]

Yep. Girls play-fight, too. I have some young Delawares I've been watching do this, 3 boys, 4 girls. They are so silly looking when they leap up and collide with each other. They'll do it 3 or 4 times, feathers all raised, then suddenly forget about it and run off to chase a bug or something.

 

[Deannep36]

Oh thank god, I was getting worried thinking that most of my "hens" were actually "roo's"
Thank you both for easing my mind

Deanne

 

[Buugette]

I have begun to think the same thing... and panicking. I can't have a roo... not in my surroundings. We have 3 bantams... 2 silkies and 1 I'm not sure of... looks like a Polish, but who knows. We call HER the road runner as that is what SHE looks like. Very friendly, but independent. All 3 bump chests, jump on one another and like to get on the ledge of their container. They are only 4 to 5 weeks old, and I am praying they are hens. Is there any particular things to look for at this age to tell a hen from a roo? They are so sweet and I am so addicted to them... I would hate to have to part with all of them.

Desperate for hens...