I've had a couple of hens who "crowed." Both did so when there was no rooster in the flock. the first one probably sounded much like what you describe, certainly not a true crow, but also certainly not a "hen" sound. The second one actually sounded more like a rooster. Her "crow" was much quieter than a rooster, but a very similar sound; at first I thought I was hearing a neighbor's rooster crow.
I have no idea what the statistics are, but I'ms sure a hen who crows is much less likely to lay than one who doesn't. Crowing hens may also "mount" other hens as if mating, said to be a gesture of dominance, or so I've read. To me it just makes sense that all this is hormonal, so laying is going to be less likely.
My flock is all hens now, and has been for over a year, since I lost my last roo. I don't hear crowing any more, and while I don't know for use, I suspect they are all laying. The crowing hens have been shortly after losing a rooster.
Just my experience; I don't know how universal all this is.