Do hens grow spurs?

[BrewedInNh]

Sorry for the really newbie question. We have 6 chickens that are about 12 weeks old. We thought they were all hens, but one of our Leghorns is starting to grow a stub where a spur would be on a roo. Is this normal for a hen, or should we expect to hear crowing at some point?

I can take some pictures when I get home if needed.

 

[canada-goose]

Hens can get spurs, too. Usually not as big as rooster spurs, though.

Pictures would help a lot.

 

[elmo]

My hens have tiny little stubs where spurs would be; more like nubs, actually. In my (limited) chicken experience, it's the combs that are the tell tale markers of gender in chicks. I could tell by around 4 weeks which of mine were little cockerels just by comparing how much bigger and redder their combs were from those of their sisters.

 

[BeccaB00]

Yes hens grow spurs to.

Just not as big as the roosters.

 

[pgpoultry]

All my hens have bumps but no claw on the end. The size of the bump varies with the chicken breed,

Sandie

 

[BrewedInNh]

Thanks everyone, it's a relief to hear. I was beginning to think I'd have to rehome a hen that turned out to be a rooster.

I know some folks don't think much of how a Leghorn looks, but we like them well enough to want to keep them.

Oh, I tired to get pictures last night but our camera battery died. Then I tried with my web-cam, but things were moving too fast to get a good shot.

 

[GeeVee]

We have a delaware hen with BIG spurs (well, 1 big spur, 1 smaller spur)! Kinda strange....but it happens

 

[BrewedInNh]

It sounds like you might all laugh at the picture of the nub, but we're new to raising chickens and... and the nubs are new. Well, you probably know what I mean.

Here's the nub. One on each leg.

This is the suspect.

 

[crtrlovr]

I have a few hens with spurs that are downright impressive.

 

[iluvsedward]

hint hint the name? youhoo!

all hens have little ones like that but make sure they dont get bigger