i thought it would take much longer

[lynda66]

i was woken up at 6.30 this morning by what i can only call a pathetic attempt at crowing ....... it was definitely an attempt ..... eeeekkkkk they aren't supposed to do that for ages yet they are only 8 weeks old

[Nicos]

Oh dear!!!

Mine were the same age as the girls who were POL- so that must be about 18 weeks.

Do you know which one it was ????

( mine crow from 3am - but I have heard them at midnight!!!)

[Nicos]

I've just read ..'3 months or earlier' on one thread!!! But' usually about 4 -5 months'

Maybe it depends on the breed??
( hope it wasn't Pingu!)

[lynda66]

i'm convinced that only coco and buttercup are boys, and suspect it was probably buttercup, though i was in bed and couldn't see em lol, but buttercup is twice the size of the girls though coco is much more bossy and always gets to the food first.... i have heard the occasional strangled proper chicken noise from the girls, usually when something startles them. i think buttercup is a warren or cross warren, and coco is a marans x something

i think pingu is definitely a girl just more cleverer than the others and keen to explore

[Nicos]

My cockerels were the same size as the girls at 18 weeks- but their tail feathers were more upright.
Also their neck feathers were definitely more pointed.

I wish I'd recorded mine learning to crow- they got the hang of it within 3 weeks.

Glad to hear Pingu is a girl!
Any more photos Lynda????

[MaureenHall]

Yay Go Buttercup, tell your mummy (and Auntie Mo) that you're going to be a big beautiful young man and you're not going on any dinner plate for anyone!

[lynda66]

buttercup is so not a boys name ...... and if he don't shut up, he'll be dinner faster than he imagined lol

[lynda66]

just charging the camera batteries

[ChrisB]

You do get the occasional one that is a fast developer as you have found out, he'll probably be treading the girls next week.

I had one last year, still under heat and he was having a go at crowing

Oh the joys of keeping chickens

[lynda66]

pingu lies down and shoves her bum in the air when i stroke her, but she's always the first to do anything lol, if they hurry up, i might get some eggs before the boys have to go lol

they are currently running round the kitchen spreading dog food everywhere, the dog came to investigate her bowl rattling, and they all chased her, so she gave up and went back to bed.

[lynda66]

pics up now http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...9-a_26898.html

[lynda66]

it was definitely buttercup, he just had another go ...... don't think a low roof would work to stop him as someone mentioned, he was on the floor

[Snadger]

it was definitely buttercup, he just had another go ...... don't think a low roof would work to stop him as someone mentioned, he was on the floor

Are you sure you didn't just stand on his foot or jam his beak in the door?

Maybe cock a doodle doo in chook language means " OWWWW........ GET OFF ME FOOT!!!!"

Ask auntie Mo...........she's got a degree in chookology, majoring in Chook language!

[SarzWix]

What's he doin tryin to crow at 8.30pm? Are you gonna have to sit in the dark so he doesn't think it's morning? It's all happening a bit quick isn't it....?

[lynda66]

i think he was just trying to get it right before morning maybe one of the girls was on his foot, it's very comical though, doesn't sound much like a 'proper' cock