Just checking

[Sue]

Hi
I've got two new teenage hens about 16 weeks old now, Rose and Fanny. I'm probably being paranoid but how do I know that Rose isn't really a Rodney?
Fanny is a dithery bird and when they're all out ranging around takes a fright at the wind and does a weird zig-zag dashing around and when she joins up again with her best mate Rose they sometimes go beak to beak with hackles raised and stand on tip-toe - just lasts a minute or two - is that normal?

Rose is slightly bigger and more assertive than Fanny - both the same age but don't know what to check for in case ( oh dear) she isn't really a Rose at all.

Sue

[Glutton4...]

I have two that do it occasionally, Rosie and Ginger are both girls and both laying to prove it! In my (very limited) experience it could just be them sorting out the pecking order. I wouldn't worry at this stage unless damage is being done. Good luck!

[Bramble-Poultry]

i have two hens that display to each other all the time, and two cockerels who couldnt give a toss about each other. its what makes chickens great - no two are the same!

compare their combs - are they "normal sized" or is one bird got a really large red comb and wattles? if the latter it could be a cockerel. What breed are they? can you post a picture and i will see if we can work it out for you, but it sounds like just sprting out who is boss as Glutton says.

I had an Appenzeller chick aged 6 weeks crow so you should know by now!!

[julesapple]

Funny thing...

....two of mine do that too. Gladys & Buffy are best friends, but have this occasional I'm-the-boss-no-you're-not thing. Buffy laid her first egg on Wednesday, and Gladys kept popping into the nest box to check on Buffy. I thought that was sweet.

Seems to be quite common, so I'm not worried about them.

Jules

[tlck9]

one of my girls is a dab hand at karate kicking and taking the others out....quite a sight as long as your not the one she is aiming at

[Sue]

Hi
Thanks for the replies, I am encouraged, couldn't bear to give up on Rose and Fanny, they're such darlings, I think they're a bit Heinz but apparently some Cochin/Leghorn in the make up. I'll be measuring combs and wattles tomorrow.
Sue

[Flummery]

I think often the middle birds in a small 'flockette ' will square off to one another. The boss hen knows who she is and makes sure everyone else does. Bottom hen is just bottom hen. The middle ones could posiibly move up the ladder a peg so they'll have a go.

[Bramble-Poultry]

that analogy would work equally well for most public sector jobs

[Sue]

Flummery
Dead on, Enid my hen leader never touches them, doesn't do much to protect them but there we are. Ruby who seems to have dropped down one in the order is the most trouble. Maud who is second in command and Monica who is last in order of the original four just do a purposeful walk towards them which herds Rose and Fanny along tweetling madly. Just as everything is settling down a bit the last thing I needed was for Rose and Fanny to start on one another...
Sue

[Suechooks]

My girls are the same. Top and bottom know who they are but middle group change places frequently. I'm expecting ructions on Monday as I'm amalgamating my group of 7 with my group of three on Sunday night in a new hut which the 3 have occupied for a week. Just hope they settle. They've free ranged together for almost a year now so hoping they'll settle eventually. Fingers crossed!