Cousin It

[crystal1957]

Hello everyone--I have a 'Cousin It', or so we think... Bought a New Hampshire Red pullet at the feed store a year and a half ago. It has never crowed, mated, or given us any eggs. The comb and wattles are deep red and very large. The vent is moist, deep pink, about 2 fingers in width.

All the other hens and the Rhode Island Red rooster ignore 'it', but do not hurt 'it'. It sleeps alone and is never invited to roost on the perches...

Each morning it runs to me when I call 'Cousin It'--then squats low. I shake it gently on the back and tap it on the vent, and then it shakes and fluffs like it has mated!!! We all laugh every day with this... It is so funny.

Last year when I showed at the County Fair I brought Cousin It just for fun. The folks there believed it is both male and female. Could this be true, or does it have a blocked oviduct or something else?

I don't have the money to have a vet make an assessment. Any thoughts?

I am pretty attached to Cousin It and don't want to cull it.

Looking forward to some responses. How common is this with chickens?

Thanks.

 

[Moxiechick]

I suppose a hermaphrodite chicken is possible. Why would you want to cull Cousin It, seems like you are fond of It. Let It earn It's keep by eating garden bugs and making compost.

Btw... can you post pictures? I'd love to see It!

 

[zazouse]

Got a photo of.. IT?

 

[crystal1957]

Help--Don't know how to upload the picture

 

[BC_Farms]

Click on "uploads" on the top of the page next to "Recent Posts". Upload a picture file from your computer, click upload, and then copy one of the links into the post.

 

[MaggieRae]

Here's the link from the FAQ's- https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=504

 

[crystal1957]

Here's a picture of Cousin It (I think). Thanks for all the upload advice.

 

[Hollywood Chickens]

it looks like a hen.

 

[crystal1957]

Looks like the picture took that I just posted. hurray. And thanks to all those great folks who posted some help for me.

Cousin It is so much bigger than everyone else, about rooster size. Vent is pink, moist, 2 fingers width... Doesn't crow, lay eggs, and doesn't mate with females or with roosters.

 

[crystal1957]

Does anyone know why it doesn't ever lay eggs? Sometimes if I am picking up another hen, it will 'flog' me like a rooster. Do you think there is something wrong with it inside?