Confession: I just realized a 3yo hen is actually not a hen

[TheOddOneOut]

I have a hen who crows.
I have another hen with spurs.
I *had* a hen who danced for and mounted other hens.
None of these are unheard of. Not too uncommon.

 

[ColtHandorf]

Stares intensely at chicken. Pulls up computer and looks at photo. Smh. That's totally Pumpkin Pie the cockerel (left orange band) not Pumpkin Bread the pullet (right orange band)

No more phone photo posting for me

 

[angeldiver]

I don’t see any signs of a roo, either. Looks female to me. I have a Welsummer hen that mounts my other girls regularly. She’s definitely top of the pecking order!

 

[kodster]

There is no such thing as this.

Sure there is. Ever hear of transgenderism? But yes, it's possible in chickens that they are mixed up, and hormones are usually the cause. It's rare, but possible. Haven't you heard of the story of the hen that was tried by trial for crowing? It happened, and it's documented. The case was settled when she was caged up and laid an egg.

But here's an article explaining it all... https://backyardpoultry.iamcountrys...ntaneous-sex-reversal-is-that-my-hen-crowing/

 

[Elsi Noelle]

I have a white and tan small hen named Gladys who, for the last 3 years, has frequently squabbled with the others in my flock. She's skittish and ornery. Tiny comb, small feet, no spurs, no crowing. And yet, today, I saw "her" on a female and finally understood. How did I miss this?

Is she/he smaller than the rest of the flock??? If so he might have not wanted to "come out" to the other chickens. Thats very weird though.

 

[SouthernGymMom]

I have a white and tan small hen named Gladys who, for the last 3 years, has frequently squabbled with the others in my flock. She's skittish and ornery. Tiny comb, small feet, no spurs, no crowing. And yet, today, I saw "her" on a female and finally understood. How did I miss this?

Could she just be setting the pecking order? I have dominant hens that jump on one poor underling to set her straight, but she's definitely a hen -- seen her laying. Just a thought.

 

[sallyo]

We have 2 3yo (maybe 4) hens left from a flock of 25 bought from McMurty's. These are the only 2 left, both black astrolorps. The others were carried off by a coyote while my untrained GPs watched... Anyway, one of them recently started crowing and mounting the other hen. She also lays very weak eggs like when she was a beginner. Just my observation, no clue what's going on.

 

[Chipmunk Chicks]

Did you ask Gladys how she identifies? What are her preferred pronouns? You can't just put a chicken in a box this day and age. Let them make their own decisions. Sheesh!

 

[janiedoe]

I may never go to a comedy club again. Thank you all!

 

[bgmathteach]

There is no such thing as this.

Yes, there is. Did you know that if you cooled eggs for 3 days before incubation, 10% of the genetically cockerels would develop as hens... (i.e. hatch out as hens and lay as they came of age) @BY Bob found a study on it.

Also, there is MUCH MORE to determining sex than just (for humans) XY, or for Chickens WZ genes. There are many chromosomes and other genes that can get turned on or off and affect sex of an animal.
[ Note: in turtles, the environmental temperature makes a significant impact on the sex ratio of hatched eggs - well documented - without the genetics changing.) We are just beginging to explore more things that affect sex than the presumed XX/XY or WZ/ZZ of humans/chickens respectively.