Crowing hen

[Audio51]

I have a hen who is not quite 1 year old who I heard trying to crow today. She is an Americauna and I have posted pictures of her before because I was not sure of her sex, but she definitley lays. From what I have read on this thread, this seems too young for it to be hormonal. I have 4 hens...one of which went broody and his now raising 12 chicks from purchased eggs.

 

[Dorte]

I have a Black Australorp that crows, and she is still laying. She lays maybe 5-6 eggs a week.

I only have two hens, and the crowing started when the other hen went broody. She crows in the morning after I let her out, especially if there is something wrong (missing drinking water outside, lack of delicious treats for her to eat). I am suspecting that her main complaint is being lonely, though, Before the other chicken went broody she did make some really annoying sounds once when she was accidentally locked out of the coop in the evening and she found herself all alone in the morning. I am guessing that is why she crows so much now that the other hen is staying in the nest.

I am hoping that now that the other hen is no longer broody but instead the mother of two little chicks the crowing will subside. It is EXTREMELY annoying as she does it right next to our bedroom window.

 

[Audio51]

I haven't heard mine do it for about a week or so now. Hopefully she is over it. The broody hen is not as protective of the chicks any more so maybe she is the dominant hen and is resuming her role.

 

[sybratton]

This is Graybird - a 20 week old easter egger (I'm told). I thought Gray was a hen until yesterday, she/he crowed. Can anyone tell from this pic if hen or rooster and confirm breed? Thank you.

 

[Audio51]

Wow! What a gorgeous bird! It does look like a hen to me though. Incredible colors...

 

[WitchyWomanWV]

I think I might have a hermaphrodite on my hands too! Just expanded the flock and one Welsummer was definitely a roo. Aggressively mounting, spurring and fluffing neck feathers at another roo (destined for the "freezer camp" as well... He/she has spurs and crows. Well I separated him/her into a separate pen with the intention of culling when the weather was nicer. Checked food and water yesterday and lo and behold, there was an egg in the pen and our bird was clucking! Very creative way of dodging the stewpot!

 

[horsesnchkns]

ok, this is going to sound dumb, but I"m raising my first flock (got the babies in Feb 2013) - I lost my original rooster to a racoon (who met her fate the next day) - Bought another rooster who is about 8 or 9 months to my girls 5 months. My rooster crows. (of course) - So, this hen crowing business... this is new to me. Is it loud and clear like a rooster crow? I was in my coop, hanging with the chickens, and my rooster crowed (at 5pm in the afternoon) - Then I thought I heard one of my girls "crow" but it was very quiet, she was clucking or "bak" ing... and I heard her quietly sound like she was imitating him, but it was not loud.. in fact, it could have been my imagination. I know I heard it, but... not sure if it classifies as a "crow" or just making noise...

I've only gotten a couple of eggs so far, and I have no way of knowing who is laying yet... my dad told me that hens that "crow" dont' usually lay. (although I've read differently here...) And i Have a dominant rooster, so... I'm thinking this was just imitation noise, not a true "crow". but wanted to know what a hen "crow" sounds like. (assuming it's a real hen, and not a rooster/hen/both kind of deal)

 

[Judy]

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.

 

[megg0602]

My black copper maran crowed the other day out of the blue when we let her out! I was so upset because I thought she may be a "he"... but now that I have been researching it- I'm pretty sure she is still a she haha!

Here's a video my boyfriend took of her... this is the one time she has done this and hasn't done it since. All the chicks are 8 weeks old

 

[horsesnchkns]

Thank you Flockwatcher, that's helpful. And Megg... that was also helpful! I can usually only really spend time with them on the weekends, so I don't always hear what's going on. My hen "crow" wasn't as loud as the video, it was more of a shy "whisper" but I expect she was just "trying it out"... I don't know. I"m learning so much just watching them and reading these boards. I have only 5 hens/pullets now.. only one is currently laying (they are still only 20-22 weeks) - so I'm HOPING they all lay. I have 6 more babies coming up... but it will be a while before they start laying... Who KNEW Hens got so hormonal?!?!? Between myself and my two daughters, Lord knows the last thing I Need is more female hormones "in the air".