Can my Silkie have changed sex?

[DizzyDelights]

Hi all, I had two silkies (ginger and pepper), they live with lots of ducks and have since birth. We lost pepper about 3 months ago (she just died in the middle of the day for no apparent reason but we suspect neuro issues), both were laying and as we didn't want ginger to be alone at night (chickens sleep in a separate house to the ducks), we started bringing her in to the kitchen at night where she continued to lay. Fast forward to now and we've put her back at night as we now have some young chicks (a mixed bunch), she's been her usual self and laid for a few weeks until about 10 days ago when she stopped. She spends a lot of time in her house, bullies the ducks when she's outside and has become very vocal, it sounds as if she's crowing, can she have changed sex?

 

[DizzyDelights]

I have audio of her but can't seem to post it

 

[JacinLarkwell]

She did not change sex. Hens can crow, I've had several over the years, and may develop rooster characteristics if they have hormone imbalances, but they are still females

 

[HollowOfWisps]

No she did not have a sex change. It’s not unheard of in flocks with no rooster for the head hen establish herself as the dominant leader and start making sounds that sound similar to crowing.

 

[DizzyDelights]

That's useful to know, weird that she's stopped laying though. She's not molting or eggbound, she has a good diet with plenty of extras and she looks healthy, especially when she's chasing the ducks away from food

 

[HollowOfWisps]

That's useful to know, weird that she's stopped laying though. She's not molting or eggbound, she has a good diet with plenty of extras and she looks healthy, especially when she's chasing the ducks away from food

Chickens will have times throughout the year where they stop laying eggs for periods of time. Usually as they get older their tendency to take egg laying breaks become more frequent and longer.

 

[DizzyDelights]

Chickens will have times throughout the year where they stop laying eggs for periods of time. Usually as they get older their tendency to take egg laying breaks become more frequent and longer.

I'm used to the on/off laying with chickens; had chickens prior to this new start of ducks/chickens, they all lived longer than predicted and it was after the final one died of old age that we decided to go back to ducks and chickens, but silkies are new to me.
Ginger is 14 months old, so not old, and not in molt, I'd expect it if it were later in the year but we're in peak daylight time at the moment when the old chickens would've been in full production.
Tbh, we have enough eggs from the ducks so her not laying doesn't bother us, it's more of a worry in case there's something wrong, even though there doesn't seem to be - apart from the crowing

 

[HollowOfWisps]

I'm used to the on/off laying with chickens; had chickens prior to this new start of ducks/chickens, they all lived longer than predicted and it was after the final one died of old age that we decided to go back to ducks and chickens, but silkies are new to me.
Ginger is 14 months old, so not old, and not in molt, I'd expect it if it were later in the year but we're in peak daylight time at the moment when the old chickens would've been in full production.
Tbh, we have enough eggs from the ducks so her not laying doesn't bother us, it's more of a worry in case there's something wrong, even though there doesn't seem to be - apart from the crowing

How hot is it there? Mine will often take a break during heatwaves regardless of age.

 

[DizzyDelights]

How hot is it there? Mine will often take a break during heatwaves regardless of age.

The last few weeks have been hovering between 15 degrees C and 20C, cloud and rain interspersed with the odd bit of sunshine. Today was 24, predicted 25 mid week then dropping back to mid teens next week - pretty crappy for this time of year

 

[SwampPrincessChick]

Hens can crow, and do so when they are trying to assert their dominance. Sometimes the hormones of females change due to a hormone issue, and they begin crowing, attacking humans and even mounting the other hens.

I noticed you mention a Silkie hen that died. If you have a male duck in the same space as the chickens, he could have mated her and killed her. If a male waterfowl mates a female landfowl, her insides will tear apart and she will die.