The laying I cannot answer. But the noise is crowing. Yes, crowing. I have a crowing hen. It does not resemble a crow, because she does not have it down like the roosters. It does not mean that she will have a gender change or anything, she just crows. As far as I know, it won't affect laying.
No. Once the majority of the pullets start to lay, then start in with the layer feed. It does not matter that the one laying the eggs is on grower. Grower just has more protein than layer feed, because the chicks are still growing. If you want, you can put them all on layer feed. It does not...
I think it is a she. (or a pullet. same difference) The tail is small, but not tiny like cockerels at the same age have. Her comb is not red yet, either.
Okay. I don't know much about incubating, but I might be able to help with this one.
1. You aren't supposed to help a chick out of the shell. (unless a bit is stuck to it. Then you can pull it off)
Only problem with that? It is hard to not help. Why can't you help? Because if the chick...