Can a hen switch genders?!

[Cinnamon11]

I’m kind of freaking out because as soon as I put my sweet 6 yo barred rock down in my coop after holding her she ran straight towards my cuckoo maran pullet and started mounting her and humping her like a rooster would! She even was grabbing beak feathers! She has always been dominant and “crows” like a dominant hen would (not like a rooster crow) she has recently stopped laying and I’m confused why she would be doing this! What’s going on?!

 

[ladybrasa]

https://backyardpoultry.iamcountrys...ntaneous-sex-reversal-is-that-my-hen-crowing/

Apparently it’s possible! Just found out recently myself.

 

[Cinnamon11]

https://backyardpoultry.iamcountrys...ntaneous-sex-reversal-is-that-my-hen-crowing/

Apparently it’s possible! Just found out recently myself.

Gosh I hope she doesn’t start crowing it I won’t be able to keep her!

 

[MadamPoofyBrow]

I’m kind of freaking out because as soon as I put my sweet 6 yo barred rock down in my coop after holding her she ran straight towards my cuckoo maran pullet and started mounting her and humping her like a rooster would! She even was grabbing beak feathers! She has always been dominant and “crows” like a dominant hen would (not like a rooster crow) she has recently stopped laying and I’m confused why she would be doing this! What’s going on?!

They will do this to show dominance, same thing with the crowing. They don’t change gender, but sort of take on the role of the rooster.

 

[RedLionChooks]

Yes! I have seen this in a friend's flock. When my friend lost her rooster, her most dominant hen, a black australorp, assumed the role of a rooster. She developed a larger comb, and a beefier build. She also mounted hens and crowed. Someone has to play the role! When my friend introduced a new rooster to the flock, the stand-in tested him, but soon found her place as a hen again. Nature has a way of balancing things out - hormones flooded in order to serve the purpose I guess. Pretty fascinating.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Kinda neat to think a hen would step up to protect the flock when there's a need.

 

[Hei 20]

I’m kind of freaking out because as soon as I put my sweet 6 yo barred rock down in my coop after holding her she ran straight towards my cuckoo maran pullet and started mounting her and humping her like a rooster would! She even was grabbing beak feathers! She has always been dominant and “crows” like a dominant hen would (not like a rooster crow) she has recently stopped laying and I’m confused why she would be doing this! What’s going on?!

It happened to me. Or so I thought. I assumed I had a HEN for a whole 10 weeks. Then it started crowing all of the sudden at week 11. I was so sure it was a hen, I dressed him up so purty. Then I felt so bad that I had to make him pants.

Now a days he wears the pants in my house.

 

[the3quail]

It happened to me. Or so I thought. I assumed I had a HEN for a whole 10 weeks. Then it started crowing all of the sudden at week 11. I was so sure it was a hen, I dressed him up so purty. Then I felt so bad that I had to make him pants.

Now a days he wears the pants in my house.

Oh wow! My chicken would find a way to get them off

 

[Hei 20]

Oh wow! My chicken would find a way to get them off

No, but really. It was just me, I really thought it was a hen, I was just confused. I really wanted it to be a hen.

 

[Cinnamon11]

Thanks everyone! I hope she doesn’t start crowing but that’s really helpful and cool animals will step up and protect when needed