Hen making Rooster call????

[McChics]

I'm down to one chicken. Last week my oldest and last original (Biscuit) from the start of my adventure into BYC passed away over night. She had been making a respiratory growing sound when it was really hot outside but was otherwise acting healthy. In fact, her last day on the planet she was playful and seemed to be enjoying the wonderful spring day and mild temps. She even played a game of keep away from the ducks.

Biscuit was a wonderful watch of the flock and was very protective of Licorice. Licorice is a large framed Australorp hen.

Biscuit has been gone a few days now, and on Saturday morning at daybreak Licorice came out of the coop and started crowing like a rooster. She did it nearly a dozen times. One of the ducks was next to her and right after she would cry out - the duck would answer. It would be funny if I didn't think there was some connection between Licorice figuring out she's all alone now.

The ducks and chickens have come to peace with each other, but they are not super social close. This morning I found one of the ducks down in the grass in the shade keeping Licorice company.

No crowing this morning - so not sure what that was about.

Anybody else seen this?

 

[chrissynemetz]

I'm sorry about Biscuit I've known older ladies to crow occasionally, but I've not had one do it from loneliness. Although with chickens I think anything is possible. Are you planning on getting more hens for Licorice?

 

[Sequel]

I had a hen that crowed a few times. Not for that reason though. Not that she told me anyhow

 

[Birdie mom]

I've head that sex change is possible in hens believe it or not. I think that it can be caused by reproductive cancer (?) in older hens. I'm no expert but that's just what I read.

 

[McChics]

I'm sorry about Biscuit I've known older ladies to crow occasionally, but I've not had one do it from loneliness. Although with chickens I think anything is possible. Are you planning on getting more hens for Licorice?

I would like to - but no plans right now. Raising from baby chics takes up more time than we have to spend. My wife would rather spend the weekend going camping or traveling and not tied to the house. My auto doors and timers do wonders to give us several days of freedom, but only with adult chickens. Maybe in the spring we'll give it a go. I prefer to have at least one older Hen though to show them the ropes and the flow.

 

[Shadrach]

Hens will and do crow for a number of reasons. I would say your hen is lonely and miserable.
Some chickens definitely grieve for lost flock mates.
Chickens are highly social creatures. I don't think ducks cut it for a chicken. Find another adult of her breed for company.

 

[centrarchid]

I'm down to one chicken. Last week my oldest and last original (Biscuit) from the start of my adventure into BYC passed away over night. She had been making a respiratory growing sound when it was really hot outside but was otherwise acting healthy. In fact, her last day on the planet she was playful and seemed to be enjoying the wonderful spring day and mild temps. She even played a game of keep away from the ducks.

Biscuit was a wonderful watch of the flock and was very protective of Licorice. Licorice is a large framed Australorp hen.

Biscuit has been gone a few days now, and on Saturday morning at daybreak Licorice came out of the coop and started crowing like a rooster. She did it nearly a dozen times. One of the ducks was next to her and right after she would cry out - the duck would answer. It would be funny if I didn't think there was some connection between Licorice figuring out she's all alone now.

The ducks and chickens have come to peace with each other, but they are not super social close. This morning I found one of the ducks down in the grass in the shade keeping Licorice company.

No crowing this morning - so not sure what that was about.

Anybody else seen this?

Based on what I am seeing, a hen that crows like a rooster has a hormone profile that is more male like than a typical hen. My hen doing the rooster type of crowing is also strutting like a rooster.

The other context where I see female crowing involves broody hens with chicks. Male-type hormones probably up there too to help increase the broody hen's aggression level so she can ramp up aggression quicker as needed in defense of brood. The crowing appears to be a distancing mechanism for other chickens close by as well as a method for advertising location to flock mates she wants to stay in communication with.