Will a hen fight a rooster?

[bigcountry1009]

We are back to the question of how many roosters do we have with our flock of 16 week old black Australorps. We were certain of three. Three crow and large combs and longer wattles than the rest. Two are in the same pen and spar on occasion. Just a little squaring off, then may be a jump or two, then they part ways to the food water or roost. Today my dominate rooster was fighting with one I swore to be a hen. Smaller wattles and comb. Never crowed. And my second rooster was watching with a confused look. And this was a fight. Lasted for about five minutes. Knocked the waterer and feeder all around. Jumped and hit the pen roof. They did not like one another. Now I'm back to being confused on the sex of our chickens.

 

[my sunwolf]

Hens and roosters will fight, especially at a young age, but also as adults. By 12 weeks you will start to see pointed hackle and saddle feathers on the roosters, which is a pretty definitive way to sex your chickens.

 

[donrae]

Pictures?

Hens will fight a rooster, usually a rooster won't fight a hen that long. Pics are best to tell gender.

 

[bigcountry1009]

Still working on the pics. Gotta read up on how to insert them. But I've been researching online and judging by the hackles, tail feathers, and comb/ wattles my flock just turned into 7 roosters and a hen. All but one have the pointed hackles, curled/hanging tail feathers and at 16 weeks they all have larger wattles/comb than most adult hens I've seen online

 

[Studio2770]

Still working on the pics. Gotta read up on how to insert them. But I've been researching online and judging by the hackles, tail feathers, and comb/ wattles my flock just turned into 7 roosters and a hen. All but one have the pointed hackles, curled/hanging tail feathers and at 16 weeks they all have larger wattles/comb than most adult hens I've seen online

In the reply box there is the icons at the top, the picture upload is 8th from the right.

 

[bigcountry1009]

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Except for differences in wattle/comb size all but one look like this. Will try some close up shots tomorrow. Gotta borrow a fish net to catch them.

 

[bigcountry1009]

 

[Elena2424]

My hens fought with the lesser dominant roosters to show there dominance

 

[shmccarthy]

One of my Sebright hens has lately been picking on the rooster. He used to be top of the pecking order of that flock but lately she has been challenging him and I gotta say I was pretty impressed. It seems like a dominance thing unless its happening all the time.