hen or rooster

[tucsoncorey]

I have 2 Egyptian Faoumi hens that are 4.5 years old. All of a sudden, well really over the last two months, one has grown spurs, saddle feathers (that lovely golden color!) and has grown long, curly black-green tail feathers. What is going on? Anyone ever seen anything like this?

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

OHH Sounds interesting...can you post a picture!? Would love to see it.

 

[danischi24]

From what I know of ducks, when a female becomes messed up in her sex organs & they stop working etc, she starts to change plumage to look like a male. This might be what's happened to your hen.

 

[ella]

Yes, usually only the left ovary is functional, if it get damaged or for whatever reason quits working the right one kicks into gear and produces testosterone. It's a weird bird thing.

 

[player1]

cool, sounds awesome, in a way, i heard that when a male dies a female will change sex to replace it ...something to do with the pecking order

 

[fancyfowl4ever]

Quote:
Not quite correct, if you have a group of roosterless hens the dominant one will sometimes start crowing to attract another rooster. They will not change gender tho.