hen that crows

[Mudstreethens]

my buff orpington is 5 years old and stopped laying 8 months ago, recently she has grown spurs and is now crowing. what happened?

 

[sourland]

Upon occasion an older hen develops an ovarian problem resulting in hormonal changes. They develop male specific feathering, grow spurs, crow and will also mate other hens - of course unable to fertilize the eggs. I have only ever seen this once.

 

[keesmom]

As sourland said, she likely has an ovaian issue that has altered her hormonal balance. It happens. We have a 5 year old buff Cochin who quit laying a couple if years ago, and has been crowing since. She's not bad at it.

Then there are the couple of hens that are laying, that crow for attention (I think) that sound just awful at their imitations.

 

[Mudstreethens]

Upon occasion an older hen develops an ovarian problem resulting in hormonal changes. They develop male specific feathering, grow spurs, crow and will also mate other hens - of course unable to fertilize the eggs. I have only ever seen this once.

thank you