Do hens ever crow??!!

[chickgirlz]

We have 6 hens, 3 of which are in their 2nd year of laying. We strongly believe that one of them (the only one laying right now) is crowing in the morning. We've been hearing what we thought was a rogue rooster in the field behind our house, but this morning my husband heard the crowing coming from inside the coop and there was only 1 hen inside. Is this possible? Why would a hen crow?

 

[Bunnylady]

Some hens crow. It's a bit unusual, but not unheard of. Usually, it's the dominant bird that does it - it's part of a territorial display. I had a Serama hen that I had in a tote in the house while her chicks were small, she crowed at odd intervals throughout the day while she was there. When she was with the rooster, she never crowed - I doubt he would have put up with it!

 

[azygous]

I have an SS pullet that crows.

She began around six months old, and I thought someone was being slaughtered. She is very near the bottom of the pecking order, but she has an assertive personality.

When she crows, usually in the morning, she engages in a buildup like a rooster does, culminating in a tortured yodeling scream. She gets her whole body into it like a roo does.

There can be no doubt in anyone's mind upon hearing her that she's indeed crowing.

 

[chickgirlz]

So is there a way to get her to stop crowing that you know of?

 

[Bunnylady]

Other than getting a roo, you mean?

 

[azygous]

My SS pullet Linda could never be intimidated to stop crowing. It's very obvious she does it out of tremendous joy and takes great pride in her performance.

I don't think a rooster has anything to do with a hen crowing or not. When Linda crows in the morning, Penrod the rooster is standing right there watching her, sometimes joining in.

 

[chickgirlz]

Yep, other than getting a rooster as we live in the city limits. Fortunately our neighbors don't mind. But my husband does since it wakes him up every morning! I'm wondering if when our younger hens start laying (and she isn't the only one) she may chill out a bit and stop.

 

[chickgirlz]

I think you should post a photo of Linda crowing with the rooster looking on!

 

[WarmChick]

I'm curious about this too. I have a 14-wk-old BSL. I thought it was a hen since I got it from a hatchery. But yesterday s/he crowed loudly. ??? How to tell for sure??

 

[FrizzlesRule]

Yes hens can crow. I've had four hens crow. They were usually older hens. I now have two eight year old Belgian D'Uccle hens and one of them occasionally crows. I'm surprised my 12 year old D'Uccle hen hasn't crowed. I also had a bantam Leghorn hen who used to crow all the time, I actually named her Crowing Hen.