Chick crowing at 8 weeks old??

[kstough]

Several times lately, I’ve heard what sounds like one of our 8 week old chicks trying to crow. Is that possible at such a young age? There are 2 full grown roosters in the chicken run near the chick area, so they do hear roosters crowing.

I am not 100% which one of the 5 chicks it is because he stops when I sneak around the corner to look in, but I think it’s the one whose mom is a leghorn and dad is a Maran (chick looks JUST like mama though).

I’ve also read that it’s not foolproof & that some hens crow.

What are your thoughts and experience with this?

I can’t wait to find out which chicks are hens & roosters and thought we’d have to wait until 3 months to look at the feathers near their tail.

Thanks!

 

[Trux]

I had 6 SLW's and 4 were cockrels, they crowed at 7 weeks, so not unusual

 

[Kwimmer78]

rooster will start to crow around 2 months before they are fully grown. I had a rhode island red that started at 7 weeks. You have nothing to worry about. I have never heard of the hens crowing thing... it may be a myth, not sure.

 

[halfpintlc]

I had a couple that started crowing around 7/8 weeks. My husband kept mocking their teenage crows. Their voices cracked like a 12 year old boy.

 

[PachecoPeeps]

Cockerels can start crowing pretty early. I have had one as early as 4 weeks start but I have also had some that wait until 3 months. Do any of your chicks have big combs or waddles yet? Do any have red combs or waddles yet? If you do that would be a boy. You can post pictures in the what breed or gender forum and people can help you ID the culprit.

 

[kstough]

Do any of your chicks have big combs or waddles yet? Do any have red combs or waddles yet? If you do that would be a boy. You can post pictures in the what breed or gender forum and people can help you ID the culprit.

Yes the one I think it has a large red comb and waddles. It sounds like he’s definitely a rooster.

Thanks for the help!

 

[Lazy Farmer]

 

[aart]

I’ve also read that it’s not foolproof & that some hens crow.

I have never heard of the hens crowing thing... it may be a myth, not sure

Not a myth, hens can crow...not terribly common, but it does happen.
Had one here myself.


And I was just listening to 2 or 3 of my 8 week old cockerels trying to tune up down there, started about a week or so ago, have also seen them grabbing the pullets necks.


FYI.....semantics, maybe, but can be important communication terms when discussing chicken behavior.
Female chickens are called pullets until one year of age, then they are called hens.
Male chickens are called cockerels until one year of age, then they are called cocks(or cockbirds or roosters).
Age in weeks or months is always a good thing to note.