BLACK AUSTRALORP HEN CROWING?

[2chixintown]

We purchased 6 pullets 15 weeks ago. Some are Ameracaunas and one is a Black Australorp. I purchased pullets and I am 90% sure my girls are all girls. We also had some polish hens and roos. We just rehomed the roos, but this morning I heard an attempt at a crow. We have checked and rechecked the pullets for signs of pin feathers and saddle feathers, but we don't see anything. All the pics I compare my girls to seem like hens/pullets.

My question is this: I think it is my Black Australorp trying to crow. Will she stop at some point? It's not very loud, but we live in a neighborhood. She is the biggest gal in the flock right now so I am confident she is the "queen" of her domain.

I will try to post pictures tomorrow.

 

[Judy]

It might be "she" will turn out to be a he with a smaller comb and waddles. Sometimes the lead hen, or one who wants to be, will make an attempt to crow. Actually, I had an Australorp when there was no roo in the flock who did a pretty good crow, though it was never as loud as the real thing. She would also climb on the backs of the others as if matimg, which they say can also be a gesture of dominance. She kept it up for a few months, then quit, although she is still the lead hen.

 

[Stiggy]

hens can become males , and act like them, to take over the dominant role etc, they can continue to lay eggs. and pullets can become males, but never males become females. chances are if its crowing its becoming a rooster, unless its laying then its kinda both

 

[2chixintown]

Thanks for the reply. We have been without the "real" roos for about 24 hours and she seems to have calmed down a bit. No "crowing" this morning. It really seems like she is a she. Her crow sounds like half of an "ooga" horn if you know what I mean. All the real roos got the whole "cock-a-doodle-do" out by now. I am hoping she will continue to relax now that the boys are gone.

I have tried to look very hard and evaluate other features such as pin and saddle feathers, we also even checked her vent to see if we could sex her/him... it? We haven't seen any other male markings. I think we will just wait to see if she starts laying eggs in the next month or two-- unless she just gets too loud. Then she might just live up to her name.... "Dinner." Yes, my son named her Dinner.

 

[donrae]

A 15 week old bird that's truly crowing is male, sorry. She's of an age where she could be doing an "egg song", but they really sound different. I'd love to see pics.

 

[2chixintown]

A 15 week old bird that's truly crowing is male, sorry. She's of an age where she could be doing an "egg song", but they really sound different. I'd love to see pics.

Donrae,
Not sure what to tell you. I will try to get pics on soon. I think the key word is "truly" crowing. It's not a real crow. Its more like a "baawwwk" on steroids... and sounds like .... nothing Ive heard before. Our other roos would improve their crow as time passed. But this one continues to sounds the same pathetic cacophony. Egg song? I hope!

 

[donrae]

IF you're not familiar with the sounds a hen makes as she comes to point of lay, go to you tube and search "egg song". See if that's the sounds she's making. Some hens are louder than roosters when they're laying or close! That's why I always cringe when folks say they want "quiet hens".

 

[2chixintown]

Finally here's a pic of my ?girl? Dinner

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[2chixintown]

Let me try this again....

 

[enola]

Your girl is a rooster........