Have a crowing pullet

chickchoon1

Chirping
5 Years
Sep 5, 2014
166
6
63
Ohio
I have three 7 mo pullets (fairly sure and will try to get pics on here but my computer deleted my only attempt at downloading vids from card reader so terrified to try more) and they're all mutts (different mamas too) and when I got up this morning I heard the only roo I have (3 years old) then I heard obvious new attempt at a crow sound. Very cute but unexpected!
And I know these 2 pics are useless in sexing but this is the only 1 of 3 I haven't watched lay an egg yet. I will separate "her" tonight and see if she lays in the next few day. And I know some girl chx can crow but this will be a first in 13 yrs. of my keeping chx.
 
3rd pullet confirmed! Just went out to turn all chx loose and the above pullet, Buttercup (because of her comb-I've given up on being creative with names) was the first to jump in the outside nest box and she laid what was probably her first egg. It was bloody and I don't know if she was the one crowing this morning but it was probably one of the 3 young birds. So crowing doesn't prove its a male 100% of the time. Fascinating.
 
Crowing pullets usually have some sort of damage to their reproductive tracts - usually a bad ovary or something along those lines.
 
Occasionally you'll have a pullet make crowing sounds while her young body sorts out all those sudden hormonal fluctuations going on as her body prepares for egg laying. I call it the confused egg-song. And you occasionally will find a dominant hen in a hen-only group make crowing sounds. However, as mentioned above, an older hen who is entering henopause, may start crowing if she is dealing with a lack of hormones which can be caused by an infection. Despite this issue many otherwise healthy older hens will live a long life.
 
Congrats on the first egg! It's normal for there to be blood on a pullets first few eggs. I would not be to worried about the crowing, some hens (especially game type breeds) will crow and even mate with other less dominant hens in the flock, though it's more common in older hens. I would keep an eye on her, as long as she is acting normal, laying, and healthy I would not be worried.
 
I had a Buff Orpington that much preferred the song of a roo to those she was supposed to make. When the other girls would lay and sing their egg song, she'd get off the nest, admire her handiwork for a minute, then crow her pride! Sheesh. Silly chickens! Congrats on Buttercup's first egg.
 
Haven't checked back here in a while....Thanks for info guys!! Whichever pullet/hen was doing it is still doing it (in the morning/dark) but don't know which bird yet. Hopefully this weekend I can get out very early and sit in shed with them and figure it out.
 
When you find out, please let us know
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