[slowef]

2 of  my Light Sussex keep facing off to each other, raising their feather collars and sort of peck fight, is this a lady like behaviour.

I bought them as 3 POLs they don't make any sounds to suggest them being boys it is more like a cluck but still not fully developed sound wise.  I think they are about 10-14weeks old but cannot be certain, they are very large and have long legs and are lean rather than comfortably soft and fluffy like a hen should be?

I do not want cock birds!!
thanks

[Aunt Sally]

Oh dear  :shock:  Do you have a picture  :!:

[slowef]

I will take one weather permitting tomorrow.  They have grown so fast and could eat for England, greedy birds.  Think they will have to go as I don't like them really. :-(

[richyrich7]

Oh dear  :shock:  Do you have a picture  :!:

Ohh dear I think I get the picture    hope your an early riser  

seriously it does not sound like very lady like behaviour mine are a mob but not with each other.

[slowef]

I thought I was ok as someone mentioned that a cock bird had a split comb and mine are not split.  

They run like crazy women and cluck about maybe they are at that awkward adolesence stage when they look  neither chick nor chook!!

They eat masses but don't gain weight just seem to get taller.  They were bullied by my hen because she had chicks and wanted all the pickings for them so now they think its the thing to do, although the chick of Yummy (Gucci) has learnt from her mum that its ok to fight for what you want and has no qualms about fighting them which maybe makes them as they are.

Maybe they are just all crazy!!!
 :oops:

[Aunt Sally]

someone mentioned that a cock bird had a split comb

What do you mean by a "split comb" :?:

[babe]

hi slowef, was just wondering if Yummi is still sitting on any eggs and how she's getting on. k x

[slowef]

someone mentioned that a cock bird had a split comb

What do you mean by a "split comb" :?:

If the comb looked like it was in 2 parts it was a boy and single comb a girl, don't know who posted this to me? I sat with them this morning forgot to take the camera up with me but when it stops raining will go and take photo's, one is def rosey and the other 2 make a wierd noise neither cluck nor doodle, confused so am I :-)

Yes Yummy still on the eggs but not so many as she started with.  I am letting her keep up till the date is passed, next saturday is H day so will wait till then and hope.
thanks for asking
xx

[Aunt Sally]

I still don't really understand what you mean by two parts  :?

This is a light sussex hen



 and this is a light sussex cock



The comb is much larger and more developed  in the cock but is only in one part  :!:

[GrannieAnnie]

I don't understand about a split comb either, never heard anyone else mention it, but my girls are all definitely girls.  They still fight like cockerels and several of them sit on the backs of the others as if trying to 'mate'.  Maybe they are some of the like we hear who can't make up their minds if they are hens or cockerels,

Perhaps they are both, like snails??

[cornfed]

light sussex are generally really placid birds i have found, fully grown cockerels will live togethor in the same pen as i have a friend who has three males and half a dozen girlies all living happily.

[slowef]

These are the Terrorists!!  Not a very good one as they kept running away.  Like I said most Sussex are nice mine are just mad.

[psipower]

Hi slowef. I started with some 4-5 week old chicks (hens) and during what you might call their 'adolescent/teenage' weeks they displayed this behaviour towards each other - before settling down to be 'proper' hens.

[richyrich7]

Beautiful looking birds Slowef, that's the breed I want to get next.Anybody know what colour eggs they lay?

[Aunt Sally]

Cream to light brown Richy