Roosters and Hens and the Mosh Pit

[cogorman]

Okay here's the run down,
I started with 2 dozen eggs that I bought from a guy that sells eggs to eat. He had roosters all over the place so I figured some might be fertile eveb though he didn't think so. Well 20 were but I dropped one on day 6. Out of the 19 remaining 17 hatched and are now 1week old. The town I live in allows 6 hens and no roosters. I was playing the odds that 50% (12) might hatch in the old rickety homemade incubator I had, and that 50% (6) might be hens. I need to move some of these chickies to the good homes I've prearranged for them soon (17 is just too many for me to handle), and need to find those roosters ASAP. I have noticed some of the chicks love to jump into the middle of the huddle at nap time. It's hilarious to see! And these same clowns jump up at times and rake with their feet like cock fighters do. Might this be an indication that they are roosters?

 

[SmartyChick]

I can usually tell roosters because they are larger and usually straighter and leaner and WAY more mischievous

while girls are more rounded and shy, but this isn't always the case. Can you wait til they are more developed and then post in the "What Breed or Gender is This?" section? Maybe someone with more expertise can add here.

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

and congrats on a great hatch

Sadly all the jumping and play fighting/real fighting will not tell you pullet from cockerel - just dominate from less dominate.


Yup, everyone loves pictues and enjoys playing the "cockerel or pullet" game - ok, it may just me be but I highly doubt it

 

[cogorman]

I'm going to wait as long as they have room. They egg man had a mixed flock with about 50 hens and 10 roosters...Barred Rocks, Buff Orpingtons, RRs, and maybe others too, all just free ranging about the farm. Most of the chicks look like Rocks, one looks very Buff, and 3 or 4 just muttly cute with black fluff bodies and red faces. I just hate to give away the hens and I'm hoping the interesting looking ones are hens. Thanks for the help!