Help. How do I get my hen to stop crowing?

[Nanci McFarland]

I just got my 3 little hens in October. They are 16 weeks old today. One of the Barred Rock hens started crowing a bit over a week ago. We are not allowed to have roosters in our suburb city due to the noise. I am worried that a neighbor will report us and we'll have to get rid of everything. Our city is very quick to enforce ordinances. Could diet cause a hen to do this or is it only a dominance behavior? Some of the treats we have given them are high protein and I read that sometimes that messes with their hormones. I thought protein treats were good for them. My husband is ready to get rid of her but I don't want to. How do you tell the sex besides looking at their combs and waddles?

 

[nuthatched]

That's because it's a rooster and not a barred rock. He's very handsome!
Combs and waddled aren't a 100% on telling the gender.
See those long feathers that hang down on either side of the tail, those are called saddles and they are long and pointy on a male. Males also have longer feathers on the neck called hackles. Hens have saddles and hackles too but they are short and rounded

 

[Nanci McFarland]

That's because it's a rooster and not a barred rock. He's very handsome!

How can you tell that this is a rooster?

 

[benevolent_leonela]

I would agree with nuthatched. It appears you have a rooster!

 

[nuthatched]

How can you tell that this is a rooster?

See those long feathers that hang down on either side of the tail, those are called saddles and they are long and pointy on a male. Males also have longer feathers on the neck called hackles. Hens have saddles and hackles too but they are short and rounded
Also, females aren't that brightly colored.

 

[nuthatched]

Did ther person you got them from tell you they were all barred Plymouth rock pullets? Lets see the others since this one is neither.
Look up pictures of roosters, then hens, you'll learn the difference and be able to make short work of telling the difference.

 

[SulkyBantam]

That is a rooster.

Very pretty boy!

No, in no situation can the diet of a hen make it crow, in my experience.

 

[benevolent_leonela]

That is a rooster.

Very pretty boy!

No, in no situation can the diet of a hen make it crow, in my experience.

I am still learning my chicken breeds, but is this a Bantam? He is gorgeous!

 

[SulkyBantam]

I am still learning my chicken breeds, but is this a Bantam? He is gorgeous!

Not bantam, I don't think

 

[sourland]

100% cockerel, and not a barred rock. Can you post pictures of the rest of your flock?