Help, She's Crowing & won't lay eggs anymore!!!

[suzezoo]

Hi! This is my 1st post! ANY suggestions are welcome!!

My almost 2 yr old Buff Orpington was laying last year, Stopped to moult & decided to start crowing in February. She started laying in March, for the season, but only laid 2 eggs & they where both soft shelled. She hasn't laid any since!!

I've tried separating her from the others 3 days, to reintroduce her. Thinking of she wasn't too hen she wouldn't crow. Worked 3 days...

I've tried putting our decoy plastic rooster by the run, hoping she wouldn't feel the need to crow with him there. Worked 2 days...

I'm feeding her layer food, plenty of oyster shell & grit, water, they get treats of meal worms on occasion also, but still no eggs! I know she's a female, I know her eggs from the others bcs we only have 3 hens & they each lay a different color. (She's a Buff Orp & we have a Black Astrolarp & a Easter egger).

Thank you for any help!!!

 

[AusHen]

When a hens ovary is damage or they suffer some form of hormone imbalance they dont turn into roosters, they remain hens. the lack of estrogen produced from a faulty/damaged reproductive system and imcrease of testosterone can cause them to crow, and in some cases grow larger combs, wattles and spurs but the plumage typically isnt affected.

Some hens will crow even while laying eggs, but in your case is seems she may have something going in with her reproductive system somewhere

 

[nuthatched]

She's got a hormone issue, this can be caused be reproductive issues.

 

[Rock17]

Could she be undergoing a gender transition? Very rarely they can change their gender. Is her tail starting to look rooster like? Is she growing long spurs?

 

[Rock17]

Also if shey is turning rooster she will gain about 2lbs

 

[BurbCoop]

Where does she sit in the pecking order? Is she the head hen?

We have a Buff Orp, eight years old now. She took on the role of head hen early on and quit laying, but for a few times off and on. She would try to crow occasionally, but nothing consistent.

We’ve pretty much chalked it up as she is filling the role of a Rooster as the dominant head hen.

A few years back, she started laying again out of the blue, lasted for about a month. We’re pretty sure she reached chicken menopause once she was done as her comb became more pale and she has never laid again.

She is still large and in charge though

 

[Rock17]

Sure. She's healthy in every way on the outside. This is her free ranging in our yard the other day. Just mental or hormonal issues I'm guessing. She was born May 2022, started laying eggs Dec '22. Last summer she gave us a handful of soft shelled eggs, 2 fairy eggs & 1 the size of 2½ normal chicken eggs! Stopped laying to molt Oct '23. Layed 3 soft shelled eggs spring '24 & now nothing but protecting the flock & crowing. All the other girls we bought May 2022 have been laying perfectly. She's the only 1 we've gotten weird sizes & soft shells from. This is why I think it's something internal as everyone gets the same food/water/treats. They all lay a little bit different color so that's how we're able to track health of each as we have a small city flock...which is why the crowing is a problem. Of course she's my daughter's favorite hen. We want to keep her if she'll shut up!! The egg laying isn't an issue as we just added more 2 hens.

Thank you for any help! We've been trying vitamins in water & other food & supplements.

Her comb and wattles are very big for a hen.

 

[suzezoo]

She is turning into a rooster by the sound of it. Sorry.

Thank you At least we've found her a nice farm to live out her days. Probably have to send her there soon, once my daughter says goodbye. Thank you for your time & caring ways!

 

[Rock17]

When a hens ovary is damage or they suffer some form of hormone imbalance they dont turn into roosters, they remain hens. the lack of estrogen produced from a faulty/damaged reproductive system and imcrease of testosterone can cause them to crow, and in some cases grow larger combs, wattles and spurs but the plumage typically isnt affected.

Some hens will crow even while laying eggs, but in your case is seems she may have something going in with her reproductive system somewhere

They can mostly turn into roosters. Maybe not fully but enough that they are more rooster than hen. They are still hens though

 

[Rock17]

Oh Boy..I live in the city & not allowed to have a roo. And hu;by says 3 birds max. Anyway to increase her estrogen levels so she'll lay again? I've heard seaweed (kelp) powder. I started feeding her that today. Anything else I can try?Thank you!

I don’t know if it is possible without an operation and that would shorten their lifespan by years and is ridiculously painful and cruel to the chicken