Hen?

[mom4apc]

I have two hens, or what I thought were two hens. Here is why I am confused. I have one of the a RIR, and she is for sure a hen. She is that last of a batch of hens I got a few years ago. I worried that she would be lonely, so my friends gave me one of her Barred Rock. We've been going along on the thought that she is a hen, as I get 2 eggs a few times a week. The reason I'm confused is that she crows like a rooster, her comb is a bit bigger than the RIR, and she has a spur. But the two eggs confuses me. I just got a new batch of chickens and I'm working on the integration, but I want to be extra careful if she is really a he.
Is it possible for a hen to have all these rooster characteristics, or is it usual for a hen to lay two eggs in one day a few times a week?
Thanks!

 

[lightchick]

Can you get a pic?

 

[BantamLover21]

Hens, especially older ones, can show the rooster characteristics you are describing--crowing, having spurs, etc. Some even try to mount other hens. The unusual thing with your rooster-ish hen is that she is still laying, since a common cause for partial sex-reversal in hens is a malfunctioning left ovary. In such cases, the right ovary (which usually is undeveloped) matures and can cause production of male hormones.

It is also possible (but rather rare) for a hen to lay two eggs at once. I think it is more likely that your crowing hen is a layer, too. Do you have any photos that you could post of her?

 

[mom4apc]

 

[lightchick]

Hmmm weird. That looks like a rooster alright!

 

[keesmom]

That's a hen.

 

[Whittni]

 

[lightchick]

Wow. That hen has a huge comb!

 

[Griffinsong]

Looks like a very masculine hen, the pattern is female, No rooster saddle or hackles. But that is a HUGE comb O_O.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I have two hens, or what I thought were two hens. Here is why I am confused. I have one of the a RIR, and she is for sure a hen. She is that last of a batch of hens I got a few years ago. I worried that she would be lonely, so my friends gave me one of her Barred Rock. We've been going along on the thought that she is a hen, as I get 2 eggs a few times a week. The reason I'm confused is that she crows like a rooster, her comb is a bit bigger than the RIR, and she has a spur. But the two eggs confuses me. I just got a new batch of chickens and I'm working on the integration, but I want to be extra careful if she is really a he.
Is it possible for a hen to have all these rooster characteristics, or is it usual for a hen to lay two eggs in one day a few times a week?
Thanks!

That is a hen.

Hens can crow- I had one once do it.

Hens can get spurs too.
They can also lay two eggs in one day.