Hen or roo

[hohbacgl]

I have a "hen" that I have had for 4 years. This spring, the comb grew and she started crowing. Do I have a hen or rooster?

 

[ButtonquailGirl14]

WHAT!?!??! did she ever lay an egg or crow before????? if not you have yourself a 2 gender bird!!! what is it called again???

 

[KikiLeigh02]

She's still a hen. It's not totally uncommon for an older hen to start crowing especially if you don't have a rooster. Sometimes they stop laying, or stop laying for a period of time and start back. I can't remember the exact name for it, but there are several threads on here that talk about it.
This is a pretty good one:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/hen-turning-into-rooster.1154839/

 

[Flockandfowl46]

Hermaphrodite

 

[ButtonquailGirl14]

Hermaphrodite

That's it!

 

[sawilliams]

At 4 years she's still a hen even if she has stopped laying. There are multiple possible reasons a hen will start acting or even looking male. 1 is the hen to rooster ratio, in an all hen flock a head hen will often take over rooster domanace actions including mounting and possibly crowing, this does not usuallyeffect the appearance. 2 medical, a hormone change in a hen often caused by defect or cancer (possibly others) can cause a hen to take on a male appearance, including crowing.

Some things to remember the combs and waddles do continue to grow on hens and rooster regardless of age much like the human nose. I have had some 4year hens who's combs abs waddles complain to those of my new up and coming cockerels. Some crowing hens do still lay eggs, some do not it depends on why they changed. There is a possibility that at get next molt her feathers may also take on a rooster appearance but again this does depend on why the sudden change and may or may not effect egg laying. It is not uncommon in the wild for a head female of almost any species to take on a male appearance when males are not present, it is a natural defence phenomenon that is especially common in deer.

 

[hohbacgl]

WHAT!?!??! did she ever lay an egg or crow before????? if not you have yourself a 2 gender bird!!! what is it called again???

I think she laid eggs!

 

[ButtonquailGirl14]

I think she laid eggs!

I guess she has decided she is the boss and better start acting like it!

 

[TheTwoRoos]

This happens kinda often.Sounds like she is you’re lead girl.