3mo Pullet crowing solutions?

[Proxyn]

I have a 3mo Buff Orpington* pullet who will not stop crowing. Every morning at 4:30 she starts and keeps going intermittently throughout the day. Shes currently the dominant hen due to her massive size and I really don’t want to get rid of her since she’s my sister’s favorite chicken. She only started crowing after she became top hen.

I’ve come up with a few ideas that may help but I would like further advice.


1) Knock her down on the pecking order
I’ve heard that she won’t crow if she isn’t the boss hen. There are some shamo breeders in my area and I was thinking about getting a hen from that breed as I heard they tend to sit at the top of the pecking order in a mixed flock. RIR are also in consideration but the ones I’ve owned before weren’t particularly dominant. If you know any other dominant breeds I’m open to recommendations!

2) Crow collar
Since she isn’t actually a rooster I’m not sure how well it will work.

3) Add a rooster
I have a bantam cockerel and was thinking of adding him to the flock when he’s a bit older. However, I am going to start collar training him soon and with the anti crow collar I’m not sure he will be effective.

*Shes not an Orpington. The person I bought them from bred several breeds and they must have been mixed up




…I will be rehoming them as cockerels.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Pictures?

 

[tlcmurphy]

Does she lay eggs?

 

[Proxyn]

Does she lay eggs?

She’s not old enough to lay

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Is the rest of your flock the same age?

 

[Pigeony]

She’s not old enough to lay

I have concerns that your pullet is a cockerel. Although hens can crow sometimes, it's usually older mature hens. Very uncommon for pullets to crow, and 3 months is about the time a fast-maturing cockerel may start crowing. The bird being especially large also makes me think cockerel.

 

[tlcmurphy]

While hens *can* crow, 99% of the time that pullet turns out to be a cockerel. Also, crowing hens usually are older birds.

 

[Proxyn]

While hens *can* crow, 99% of the time that pullet turns out to be a cockerel. Also, crowing hens usually are older birds.

I haven’t seen any feathering that screams roo so far. This also isn’t the first time I’ve had a hen crow.

 

[tlcmurphy]

Those are pretty big/red comb and wattles, I believe it’s a cockerel.
By the way, he isn’t a Buff Orpington, maybe a red sex-link?

 

[BlindLemonChicken]