Female taking male Duties

[JacinLarkwell]

So I've heard in roosterless flocks, sometimes a head hen will start growing and taking over those duties, and may even start to physically look the part

I have a hen who I think is starting to do that. She tidbits for the gals and chicks and occasionally enforces a gal who's getting that spark in her eye.

But...

I have two males in the group already. I'm really confused about what she's doing.

So far no feathers have changed, but her comb has gotten a bit redder. Also hasn't laid since March

 

[Jennc-123]

I have a larged combed hen, she has been with a roo. I have had a hen flock with a dominant 'crowing' hen. They're like people, gender is fluid.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

The question wasn't if they're fluid in genders, which I don't believe they are. The question was if it was possible for a hen to take male roles with other males around. Large combs don't always mean anything.

 

[Jennc-123]

The question wasn't if they're fluid in genders, which I don't believe they are. The question was if it was possible for a hen to take male roles with other males around. Large combs don't always mean anything.

I'm sorry if I was misinterpreted. Hens take male roles, some are masculine.

 

[springvalley123]

I have four andalusian hens, had them all since hatch 13 months ago. One of them has spurs, about half-inch long. She mounts/mates one of the others in particular, and sometimes mates a second of the three other hens. No crowing, her feathers look normal. She really doesn't do any tidbit-finding like yours however.

 

[aart]

So I've heard in roosterless flocks, sometimes a head hen will start growing and taking over those duties, and may even start to physically look the part

I have a hen who I think is starting to do that. She tidbits for the gals and chicks and occasionally enforces a gal who's getting that spark in her eye.

But...

I have two males in the group already. I'm really confused about what she's doing.

So far no feathers have changed, but her comb has gotten a bit redder. Also hasn't laid since March

How old are the birds, in weeks or months?
Is the tidbitting hen older than the males?
Hard to fathom what live animals might do.

 

[Chickenhappy8708]

I'm curious to see how this turns out.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

How old are the birds, in weeks or months?
Is the tidbitting hen older than the males?
Hard to fathom what live animals might do.

She's either the same age or older than one male (she's either his sibling or his aunt and they looked exactly alike, just know that we don't have one of them anymore) and definitely older than the other

She's between 5-8 depending on which one she is. She's laid reliably for us until now, and I know it's been her laying cause she's the only one that lays those pretty blue/green eggs here

Here's a picture of her:

I glanced at her feathers, but none looked sickled like I had heard they'll get because of hormones

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I'm sorry if I was misinterpreted. Hens take male roles, some are masculine.

No I'm sorry, I probably did misinterpret. I just have a hard time when people claim animals are like humans and choose their gender regardless of their sex

 

[aart]

She's either the same age or older than one male (she's either his sibling or his aunt and they looked exactly alike, just know that we don't have one of them anymore) and definitely older than the other

She's between 5-8 depending on which one she is. She's laid reliably for us until now, and I know it's been her laying cause she's the only one that lays those pretty blue/green eggs here

I assume you mean 5-8 years old?
So, she's an 'old bird'.
Have had hens stop laying for molt and winter and crow and preform some 'rooster' duties.
She stopped that nonsense and went back to laying after a few months.