Cockerels

[elizajay]

I have got 4 chicks just over 2 weeks old in a large cardboard box with an electric "mother". This morning I decided to remove their "mother" as I think they don't need heat during the day inside the house. The 3 light Sussex chicks all started sparring with each other, taking turns so that the duels were one on one. They have all sprouted the start of combs since yesterday. The buff wyandotte looked on. I fear I have 3 little cockerels to find new homes for or else.....

[MaureenHall]

Have you thought about growing them on for table birds?

[frias]

Aunty Mo! My sympathy elizajay. I think I also have 3 cockerels. The 4th which has markings of a hen also sparrs so might be that they all do it. My adult hens sometimes sparr with feet and neck feathers stuck out like cockerels too.

[SuzyQ]

We thought our little Poppy (light sussex) was a cock as she was the only one to survive out of 12 eggs!! she sparrs with anything all he neck feathers go up, but she is a little girl, must be a tom boy.

[elizajay]

I hope I am wrong and mine are tomboys! The 4th is a wyandotte and it just watches the others. I have had them outside today in a run and my 20 week old maran is totally fascinated. She stares at them for ages and I'm not sure whether she is feeling maternal or aggressive. She hasn't started laying yet, but hopefully her hormones are stirring. She is certainly looking in very good nick, I can only describe her as handsome as next to pekins and a tiny younger Japanese bantam she does not appear to be feminine. She is also very noisy, but as a cuckoo she has female colouring.

[RedThorn]

Think it might be a light sussex trait as my girl does the same...