How soon do you notice roo behavior?

[kdini2]

Last week, I got 5 new baby chicks (Amberlink, ISA Brown, Maran, Easter Eggger, and Jersey Giant). The Jersey Giant was a straight run so I took the chance. A few years ago I got all pullets and still ended up with a roo. My question is how early do you notice roo behavior? I wouldn’t say his posture is quite cockerel-esque yet. The chicks are a little over a week old and everyone but the JG had their little tail feathers coming in but I don’t know if that’s because the JGs are slow to mature. The little guy is already very bold and runs at me and pecks when I put my hand in the brooder . On the other hand the Maran is completely docile. I have only had Easter Eggers and ducks in the past so any input on the breeds would be appreciated. Just curious. Thank you for your responses!

 

[Shadrach]

My question is how early do you notice roo behavior?

It starts at chick stage but one needs to know what to look for.
Once fully feathered the physical signs start to become more obvious.
A single cockerel with a group of hens can start to show sexual interest from about three moths.
After this their behaviour is very much determined by their keeping circumstances. Free range cockerels in a tribe will exhibit different behaviours to those kept in a coop and run environment.
In my experience one really doesn't know what males are like until at least a year old and usually not until they are eighteen months and have established themselves in the group.

 

[Nicci0110]

I'm super new to this and it's probably silly but I new my roo was a roo very early. He always gave me a side eye and was the first to try new things and the most social. He always had his head turned and one eye on me lol
He is growing up and turning into a litte A$$

 

[mcdze]

sometimes you dont .. ive had them go to full maturity acting like a big hen and competing for food with them, basically a gay rooster lol .. others ive seen turn into a man at 5-6 weeks .. but depends on breed mostly, some like barred rocks are easy to spot right after hatching, soon as they dry ..

 

[kdini2]

I'm super new to this and it's probably silly but I new my roo was a roo very early. He always gave me a side eye and was the first to try new things and the most social. He always had his head turned and one eye on me lol
He is growing up and turning into a litte A$$View attachment 3458679
View attachment 3458677

That’s the vibe I’m getting from mine too!

 

[SmiYa0126]

I could tell mine at four weeks...I had 5 cockerels and three hens

 

[StinkyAcres]

I'm sure it depends on the breed, but my Brahma cockerel was also much more bold and curious as a chick than the pullets. Male chicks also have thicker hocks than females.

 

[LizzzyJo]

This is really early for it, but you can sometimes (in hindsight) have noticed standing taller, chest bumps (which females do too), and being overly friendly. Basically lacking fear which we see as sweetness and friendliness until they hit teen hood and begin their attacks

 

[Nicci0110]

That’s the vibe I’m getting from mine too!

I got him and 5 others from a friend for free to try out raising chickens. I wound up with 5 girls and one boy. I'm obsessed now and have 13 lol I just started in January but I think I have 12 girls now and one boy.

 

[SueT]

One post I read suggests that in a group of straight run chicks, the cockerels will be the outgoing friendly ones, the ones that look at you, even come up to your hand.
This is merely a theory, and may not be the case for you.