Big Girl is a lavender Orpington. First of all, "she" has extremely shredded feathers due to lavender color genetics. But that's the least of her issues.
Big Girl was one of a dozen straight run chicks purchased March 2018. Within a few months, it became obvious that five were males. That left 7 pullets including Big Girl. Two of the cockerels grew to a massive size, even larger than Big Girl. The other cockerels were comparable to her in size. But as they became teenagers, the cockerels began to crow, try to mount the pullets, & exhibit other typical cockerel behaviors. Big Girl's behaviors remained that of a sweet demure female, and so despite her unusual appearance, I never questioned her gender.
By the time the group reached 7-8 months of age, Big Girl was clearly different from all the rest. She was nearly twice the size of the other pullets, and her comb and wattles were larger too. Her feathering wasn't obviously male, but not fully female either. (The extreme shredded feathers made it even harder to tell.) She also grew spurs. But still she never exhibited any male behaviors whatsoever, continuing to act like a gentle and friendly girl. And so when she was 8 months old, I gave Big Girl her name.
The first two photos shows her general unique appearance.
Big Girl's shanks don't seem overly thick for a typical hen, but she has awesome spurs.
Here is a frontal view showing the size difference between her and a sister lav orp hen.
A side-view comparison with one of her sisters.
As far as behaviors, Big Girl has never laid an egg. She has never tried to mount a hen, nor has a rooster ever tried to mate with her. She doesn't get into fights with either sex. She has never tid-bitted a hen, but she hangs back and watches when i offer the flock treats. She doesn't watch the sky for predators, but doesn't usually forage with the hens either. Big Girl is very friendly and calm, but is mostly a loner.
Her appearance didn't change in later years due to an ovary that ceased to produce estrogen; Big Girl has always been this way. Whatever caused her to be so unique, I adore my gentle-natured, androgynous Big Girl.
Big Girl was one of a dozen straight run chicks purchased March 2018. Within a few months, it became obvious that five were males. That left 7 pullets including Big Girl. Two of the cockerels grew to a massive size, even larger than Big Girl. The other cockerels were comparable to her in size. But as they became teenagers, the cockerels began to crow, try to mount the pullets, & exhibit other typical cockerel behaviors. Big Girl's behaviors remained that of a sweet demure female, and so despite her unusual appearance, I never questioned her gender.
By the time the group reached 7-8 months of age, Big Girl was clearly different from all the rest. She was nearly twice the size of the other pullets, and her comb and wattles were larger too. Her feathering wasn't obviously male, but not fully female either. (The extreme shredded feathers made it even harder to tell.) She also grew spurs. But still she never exhibited any male behaviors whatsoever, continuing to act like a gentle and friendly girl. And so when she was 8 months old, I gave Big Girl her name.
The first two photos shows her general unique appearance.
Big Girl's shanks don't seem overly thick for a typical hen, but she has awesome spurs.
Here is a frontal view showing the size difference between her and a sister lav orp hen.
A side-view comparison with one of her sisters.
As far as behaviors, Big Girl has never laid an egg. She has never tried to mount a hen, nor has a rooster ever tried to mate with her. She doesn't get into fights with either sex. She has never tid-bitted a hen, but she hangs back and watches when i offer the flock treats. She doesn't watch the sky for predators, but doesn't usually forage with the hens either. Big Girl is very friendly and calm, but is mostly a loner.
Her appearance didn't change in later years due to an ovary that ceased to produce estrogen; Big Girl has always been this way. Whatever caused her to be so unique, I adore my gentle-natured, androgynous Big Girl.
