Does this mean that this chick is a rooster?

[Idspud]

I came out the other day to look in the brooder and this is what I saw. The thermometer was from our garage and thought it would do but I guess this little chick which was only a week or two old found out this was the best place to check out things.

 

[cafarmgirl]

No, it does not mean it's a rooster. My chicks are always jumping up to perch on top of their feeder/waterer, whatever they can, within a few days of coming home. They like to perch and are inquisitive, if they can get up, they will.

 

[cowsr4eating]

I've noticed after a couple of weeks you'll start to see the roosters chest bump each other. I don't think I've ever seen hens do that.

 

[debid]

I've noticed after a couple of weeks you'll start to see the roosters chest bump each other. I don't think I've ever seen hens do that.

If that were true, every chicken I've had was a boy! Pullets challenge in exactly the same way young cockerels do. The boys might get rougher but the difference may not be discernable. Behavior in the brooder (aside from crowing) is unreliable as a predictor.

 

[Lolipop]

Good! My chicks chest bump each other all the time. When I started reading this, I got really worried!

 

[akchick76]

Mine will stretch as tall as they can get, fluff up and stare at each other, then rush at each other. They never really make contact, I think they do it to see who is bigger, literally. Then they flap their wings and see you can dash across the brooder the fastest. It's like watching the chicken olympics. The next event is to jump on top of the brinsea, climb to the side and jump off, flapping their little wings to see who can fly the farthest. Mind you, they are only 3 weeks old.

 

[cowsr4eating]

Oh good, I'm glad ya'll set me straight. I've had a friend telling me he can tell by that behavior. Maybe he can tell by how aggressive they are??? I'm thinking I will at least have more hens than I first thought. My husband is hatching chicks like crazy.