juvenile
juvenile at Alektorophobia is a file of 12 stories. The newest of them: “18 Weeks and Still a Mystery: Hen or Fowl Play”, “Raven the fluff ball: My sweetest (and friendliest) baby chicken”, and “Is it a rooster or just a fancy hen? Cluck-tastic debate!”. Eighteen weeks and still guessing? There's something about a chicken that decides you're her favorite person. Chickens. Everything there is to know about chickens and the fear of them. The list below is every juvenile story on Alektorophobia, newest first.

18 Weeks and Still a Mystery: Hen or Fowl Play
Eighteen weeks and still guessing? I feel your pain, chickens have a talent for keeping secrets, and this is some serious fowl play. By now, you'd think they'd give us a clear sign, but nope, they're just strutting around, looking mysterious. At 18 weeks, you're right on the cusp: combs and wattles might be telling tales, but it's not always obvious. Look for rounded hackle feathers in hens versus pointy ones in roos, or listen for an egg-citing first squawk versus a crow that'll make you jump. If you're still stumped, you're not alone, our "Bantam or Bust: Our Egg-citing Size Mystery Unfolds" piece dives into similar head-scratching moments. Drop those photos and let the cluck-tastic community weigh in.

Raven the fluff ball: My sweetest (and friendliest) baby chicken
There's something about a chicken that decides you're her favorite person. Raven the fluff ball is my sweetest and friendliest baby, a black Ameraucana (don't ask me to spell it, I'm still working on it) who's basically a little shadow with feathers. She's still just a baby, but she's already got that confident, curious energy that makes you forget she's technically a farm animal and not a tiny, clucking lapdog. I love my feathered friends, but Raven's the one who really ruffle my feathers in the best way. If you're new to the chicken life, check out our piece on "Chickens Got Her Good! A Backyard Poultry Adventure" for more relatable fowl play.

Is it a rooster or just a fancy hen? Cluck-tastic debate!
Well, color me cluck-fused! That black and gold one is throwing some serious identity shade, isn't it? I mean, we've all been there, staring at our feathered friends and wondering if we've got a sneaky rooster on our hands or just a very fancy hen who loves a good feathery fashion statement. It's the eternal backyard poultry question, right up there with "why did the chicken cross the road?" The debate is real, and honestly, the suspense is egg-citing. If it starts crowing at the crack of dawn, you'll have your answer faster than you can say "fowl play." But until then, we're all in this together, trying to decipher the mysteries of comb size and tail feather flair.

Left in Question: 14 Weeks of Feathered Fowl Play
Ah, the eternal backyard question: hen or rooster? At 14 weeks, you're right in the thick of the "feathered teen" phase, where things get interesting. The picture shows two birds, same age, but the one on the left is throwing some serious "am I a boy?" vibes. Let's just say, if that one starts perfecting its crow, you'll have your answer. It's a cluck-tastic mystery, and honestly, the suspense is half the fun. For anyone else navigating the fine art of chicken sleuthing, our piece on "Chickens Got Her Good! A Backyard Poultry Adventure" might just ruffle your feathers in the best way. For now, keep an eye on those saddle feathers and that confident strut.

Jiggles the mystery: red comb says roo, but that tail's telling tales.
Ah, Jiggles. The name alone is already cluck-tastic, but the gender mystery? That's the real feather in the cap here. At ten weeks old, with a comb redder than a barn door, you'd think "rooster" was a done deal. But then that tail feels more hen-like, and suddenly you're second-guessing everything. I've been there. You compare, you poke, you wonder if you're just chickening out on a verdict. The crowing sibling is a solid clue, sure, but Jiggles might just be the late bloomer of the bunch. I'd say keep an eye on those saddle feathers and give it another week. In the meantime, maybe check out our piece on *Six fluffy chicks have hatched, egg-cellent news from our feathered friends!

This tiny two-month-old fluff ball is already practicing its fowl play!
Two months old and already crowing? That's not a chick, that's an overachiever with lungs too big for its fluff. I can't decide if it's egg-citing or just plain hilarious, but either way, I'm here for the chaos. There's something so perfectly ridiculous about a tiny ball of feathers trying to sound like a full-grown rooster. It's the avian equivalent of a toddler declaring they're the boss. And honestly? Respect. This little one clearly didn't get the memo about waiting for maturity, and I love that for them. For anyone who thinks chickens are boring, this is your proof that fowl play is always on the table.

Silkie's sporting a bit of a boyish glow: am I clucking blind?
Well, color me clueless and a little bit clucking embarrassed. I was scrolling through my own videos, giving myself a mental pat on the back for raising such a pretty little lady, when I caught a glimpse of my silkie in just the right light. And wouldn't you know it? That "girl" is looking awfully... boyish. Am I seeing things, or did I just get played by a very fluffy rooster? It's a classic case of fowl identity theft, and honestly, I'm a little impressed. If you're questioning your own feathery friend's gender, you're not alone. It's a hilarious, humbling realization that keeps us humble in the poultry world.

Three Months In, Still Clucking Demands for Attention
Three months old and still demanding room service? That's not a chicken, that's a tiny feathered tyrant with a heart of gold. Our little buddy here proves that age is just a number when it comes to clinginess, and honestly, I respect the commitment. It's equal parts adorable and exhausting, like watching a toddler refuse to nap. Sure, they're growing up, but that doesn't mean they don't need a daily cuddle session or a gentle escort away from the vegetable garden. This reminds me of our piece on the backyard poultry adventure, where the chaos is always part of the charm. Some things never change, and honestly, we wouldn't have it any other way. Cluck-tastic, right?

Roo-dunnit? Solving the feathery mystery of your 6-week-old chick
Six weeks old and already keeping you on your toes, what a classic chicken move. This little fluffball is at that perfect age where the clues start piling up, and honestly, the suspense is half the fun. I've been there, staring at combs and feathers like they're tea leaves, trying to predict the future. My gut says rooster, but chickens love a good plot twist, so don't hang your hat on it just yet. If you're knee-deep in the guessing game, our piece on "Six fluffy chicks have hatched, egg-cellent news from our feathered friends!" might give you a few laughs and a little solidarity. Either way, you've got a feathered friend who's clearly full of personality. Cluck-tastic, right?

Six weeks of fowl play, but the feather verdict's still up in the air
Six weeks old and already playing the guessing game, huh? This little fluffball is right in that feathery gray area where even seasoned chicken keepers start squinting and tilting their heads. Honestly, it *is* still a bit early to tell for sure, but that doesn't make the suspense any less egg-citing. You're basically waiting for the chicken version of a plot twist, and honestly, the anticipation is half the fun. Whether you end up with a dashing roo or a lovely hen, you've got a real character on your hands. It reminds me of the pure joy in our piece about six fluffy chicks hatching, "Chickens Got Her Good! A Backyard Poultry Adventure," where the whole process feels just as magical.

Guess That Cluck: Help ID These Mystery Roosters
Two mystery roosters, both hatched from a random neighbor clutch, and they're already six months old, that's a proper feathery puzzle! I love that they're bunking in an indoor coop for now, like temporary houseguests who happen to crow at sunrise. Figuring out their breeds is half the fun, and honestly, the suspense is egg-citing. Whether they end up being some fancy heritage mix or just gloriously scrappy barnyard boys, they've clearly got personality. It's a real "chickening out" moment when you realize you've got two unknowns strutting around, but that's what makes backyard flocks so charming. For anyone else wrestling with breed IDs, this feels like a cousin to our "Chickens Got Her Good!

Pretty boy blues got me clucking when I wanted a hen
Oh, look at this pretty boy! That blue-green shimmer is absolutely giving me life, like he raided a peacock's closet and said, "Mine now." But oh, the irony! Here I was, dreaming of a sweet little hen, and the universe handed me this dazzling little gentleman instead. Classic fowl play, really. It's the eternal gamble with chicks, isn't it? You hatch them, love them, and hope for eggs, only to end up with a feathered friend who's more "fashion icon" than "breakfast provider." Honestly, though, with colors like that, who could stay mad? He's clearly the star of the show, even if he missed the memo on gender. If you're new to this heartbreak-meets-hilarity, you'll want to check out "Chickens Got Her Good!