4yr old hen growing spurs

[shannon84]

Shes is pretty, I can see the wisdom in her eyes haha. She came with the bracelet, we just got her, I’m gonna cut it off once she’s more comfy! She’s not a number anymore!

Awe so she was going to be a meat bird?! I'm glad you have her. So sweet!

 

[shannon84]

Like some women grow mustaches some hens grow spurs.

An older hen who does so is like was mentioned before going through some serious hormonal changes as her laying life slowly slips away.

Seems like I'm always learning something new about chickens! It's crazy. Makes sense though! Thank you

 

[Anna Ranieri]

My hen acts like a rooster sometimes, she spurs the window at her reflection, and does the mating dance to my other hen. She also does treat calling. Now she is growing tiny spurs! Does anyone else have a hen like this or know anything about hens like this? Thanks!!

I watched a documentary a few months ago about chickens gender changing, however, its only in appearance, although a cockerel will no longer crow and the hen probably will crow and a hen changed into rooster can't fertilise an egg nor can a rooster changed into hen lay an egg and according to the documentary it isn't life threatening nor harms the bird. Having said this though, I'm thinking, maybe could be like us humans who can take on opposite gender appearance i.e. I am 55 never had facial hair but recently have started growing hair on my top lip (thank goodness for hair removing products!) and my late grandma had hair grow on her chin, to the amount of looking like a small beard. I've seen elderly ladies with sideburns, beards and mustaches! Either way none is harmful to the bird - or humans for that matter

 

[Anna Ranieri]

One of our best broodies, 5 yr old buckeye, Patty, has grown spurs over the last few years. She still raises at least 2 clutches a year.... and NO ONE dares mess with her!
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Never knew this could happen, tis fascinating thanks for sharing

 

[Anna Ranieri]

View attachment 1593844 View attachment 1593845 View attachment 1593846 “Mutter” is a rescue hen and she got spurs too. I don’t know how old she is but she’s definitely past henopause. Of course she’s in charge too

She's a beauty

 

[Anna Ranieri]

Shes is pretty, I can see the wisdom in her eyes haha. She came with the bracelet, we just got her, I’m gonna cut it off once she’s more comfy! She’s not a number anymore!

 

[shannon84]

I watched a documentary a few months ago about chickens gender changing, however, its only in appearance, although a cockerel will no longer crow and the hen probably will crow and a hen changed into rooster can't fertilise an egg nor can a rooster changed into hen lay an egg and according to the documentary it isn't life threatening nor harms the bird. Having said this though, I'm thinking, maybe could be like us humans who can take on opposite gender appearance i.e. I am 55 never had facial hair but recently have started growing hair on my top lip (thank goodness for hair removing products!) and my late grandma had hair grow on her chin, to the amount of looking like a small beard. I've seen elderly ladies with sideburns, beards and mustaches! Either way none is harmful to the bird - or humans for that matter

It's crazy a hen can do that. Yeah she seems healthy as can be she is my dominant hen, I thought she was turning into a male some how or copying my rooster lol. I'm 34 and I get random hairs on my chin I have to pluck once a month. Hormones are rough on us females

 

[Killer Tomato]

I'll have to check my lead hen for spur growth. She started crowing a month ago, and like Aart said, it *does* coincide with her first molt. She is still laying eggs, just not nearly as much as before.

Hormone fluctuations suck for all of us, I guess!

 

[GossChicks]

Don’t be messing with that HEN! If one of my four starts to grow those weapons, it’ll be Nacho (profile pic)! She’s an instigator and leader of my little flock!

 

[shannon84]

I'll have to check my lead hen for spur growth. She started crowing a month ago, and like Aart said, it *does* coincide with her first molt. She is still laying eggs, just not nearly as much as before.

Hormone fluctuations suck for all of us, I guess!

Lol! I can't believe mine hasn't started to crow yet. She's my domanatd hen. I thought that's why she was rooster like .