Anybody else's hen act like a rooster

[shannon84]

I'm not a chicken expert, I haven't been around chickens much, but i have got this adult hen off my dad and she mounts my other hen and she does the rooster "mating dance" plus she does the tidbit thingy to call in for treats. Her ring will come up and everything! She lays eggs almost daily. Actually she's my best egg layer! So is this very common? I heard they can turn into a rooster even? I find that hard to believe kinda. But anyways shes about 3 years old. Thanks guys!!

 

[Ursuline Chick]

She wont turn into a rooster, as in she will not be able to fertilize eggs, but she can take on the charateristics of a rooster. I have had one do this when we had to re home a roo.

 

[TheKindaFarmGal]

Yep, in flocks without a rooster it's not unusual for a hen to try to protect the flock and take part of a rooster's role. However she is not a rooster and never will be. A female cannot magically turn into a male and fertilize eggs...end of story.

 

[shannon84]

Lol I'm glad she isn't going to turn into a rooster well that's the funny thing about it, I do have a rooster, but she is my dominant hen. So maybe that explains it? I thought maybe she was being silly and copying his behaviors.

 

[TheKindaFarmGal]

Lol I'm glad she isn't going to turn into a rooster well that's the funny thing about it, I do have a rooster, but she is my dominant hen. So maybe that explains it? I thought maybe she was being silly and copying his behaviors.

I've had hens do the exact same thing and we have no lack of roosters around here, lol. Usually the more dominant hens tend to dance and show the more dominant behavior, calling for food, etc. I've noticed it's often - pretty much always - hens that are going broody.

 

[shannon84]

I've had hens do the exact same thing and we have no lack of roosters around here, lol. Usually the more dominant hens tend to dance and show the more dominant behavior, calling for food, etc. I've noticed it's often - pretty much always - hens that are going broody.

okay, I was starting to think I had this strange rare hen lol...She is tiny but very very dominant. It was Just mind blowing to me that a hen would act like a rooster I guess its because I'm so new to chickens still Thank you for the reply!! On a side note I actually have a female dog that cocks her leg to pee... so I probably shouldn't be too surprised by these silly animals lol

 

[barred2rock]

One of my girls I thought might be a cockerel when she was young. She was lighter in color and acted different than the others. My mother even would come by and tell me I have a rooster up until the day before she laid her first egg.

 

[shannon84]

One of my girls I thought might be a cockerel when she was young. She was lighter in color and acted different than the others. My mother even would come by and tell me I have a rooster up until the day before she laid her first egg.

Lol that's too funny!!!

 

[TheKindaFarmGal]

okay, I was starting to think I had this strange rare hen lol...She is tiny but very very dominant. It was Just mind blowing to me that a hen would act like a rooster I guess its because I'm so new to chickens still Thank you for the reply!! On a side note I actually have a female dog that cocks her leg to pee... so I probably shouldn't be too surprised by these silly animals lol

Yeah! I have a female dog that does the same thing.

 

[backinthecoop45]

Hi,
So a dominant hen acting like a rooster is normal or ok?
Will she still eventually start to lay eggs?
What do we do if she gets overly aggressive?