I have an androgynous chicken

[tripletfeb]

For some reason my tag didn't work but I was watching this thread still. I'm glad you finally got answers but sorry Big Girl died. Thanks for coming back to update

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Hi everyone. I last posted on this thread 10+ months ago. Soon after my last post, I read a Lot about the subject of "intersex", including in birds and mammals. The subject is Very complicated, & gave me a new understanding and empathy for the issues intersex humans contend with. But I decided against sending in Big Girl's feathers for DNA testing at that time, since the lab said they could only determine the most predominate sex, and I couldn't find any labs that could determine if she was Both genders. I decided I would wait until Big Girl passed away before seeking testing. And now I'm sadly back much sooner than I had hoped to be.

Big Girl began to slowly but surely lose weight over the past few months. (I picked her up at least once weekly to check.) Throughout her gradual weight loss, Big Girl continued to exhibit her normal behaviors and interact with her flock. To the end she remained a happy carefree chicken. If not for the weight loss I never would have known anything was wrong. But a few days before she died, I saw her slightly sway/stumble while standing beneath my feet, and knew the end of her life was drawing near. I once again tried to find a lab that could test to determine if her DNA showed she was intersex. After no luck I contacted my state lab that performs avian necropsies. The veterinary pathologist verified that "Yes, Big Girl's gonads can be microscopically examined to see if they contain both ova and testicular tissue." So when Big Girl died, I sent her body in for testing.

I will post the full necropsy report if anyone wants to read it. (And when I figure out how to transfer the report from email to here, and delete my personal information contained in the report.) For those who don't wish to read through it, below are the results. FYI I paid for a gross necropsy to determine her cause of death, as well as microscoscopic examination of her reproductive tissues.

Gross Necropsy Examination:
Reproductive system: The oviduct is small and immature. In the area of the ovary are two oblong, tan gonads that appear similiar to testicles.
Gross Necropsy Diagnosis:
Adenocarcinoma with carcinomatosis
Intersex

Comments:
The changes to the gonads and the external characteristics of this chicken support the clinical suspicion of this chicken being intersex.

Histopathy Of Select Tissues:
Cause of death: metatastic carcinoma
Gonad: Ovotestes

Comments: The gross diagnosis of this chicken being an intersex bird is confirmed on histologic examination of the gonads and reproductive tract.

Thank you to everyone who posted or reacted on Big Girl's thread. I am now going to tag all of you to be sure you learn her official gender results, since before we all could only speculate. I apologize if I've missed anybody.
@Mhcanupp @kurby22 @azygous @Iluveggers @LadiesAndJane @EmmaEsme @Jasna Jov @Sammster @Shadrach @TheHerbs3 @Aquira @SueT @Isadora @BirdsBeesTrees @Lacy Duckwing @ChickenLeg @Tervuren @ColtHandorf @CoconutCoffee @Jenessa_096 @aldarita @Cecisflock @JacinLarkwell @Weeg @LaFleche @3KillerBs @sourland @RubelliteRose @ButtonHoarder @Paz @Overo Mare @Chickengirl2671 @Sortacountrychicken @NatJ @HollowOfWisps @6 Beach Chicks @JedJackson @tripletfeb @aart @Bigtom Turkey @Lenny loves chickens

Big Girl was both male and female. She had an oviduct, ovary and testes.
View attachment 3297942
View attachment 3297952

But that combination caused her to be sterile and exhibit no sexual behaviors of either gender, other than a brief period of time when she was two years old and semi-crowed, and also ocassionally when she clucked like a hen. Big Girl was very unique in appearance and had a very gentle nature. I will always miss her presence among her flock.
View attachment 3298034

So sorry you lost them (her/him).
Fascinating case.

 

[Painted Calls]

Thanks for the update! I'm sorry it came at the price of her life. Very interesting indeed. Explains the overall appearance very well.

 

[RubelliteRose]

Thank you for updating. I am so sorry for your loss. Big Girl was a unique and special bird!

 

[ColtHandorf]

Thank you for providing us all with an update. I know you'll miss them, but I'm sure they had a wonderful life with you.

 

[aart]

The gross diagnosis of this chicken being an intersex bird is confirmed on histologic examination of the gonads and reproductive tract.

Thanks for having this done and reporting it back here.
I think it's the first concrete diagnosis/evidence of both male and female reproductive organs being present.

 

[RoyalChick]

Hi everyone. I last posted on this thread 10+ months ago. Soon after my last post, I read a Lot about the subject of "intersex", including in birds and mammals. The subject is Very complicated, & gave me a new understanding and empathy for the issues intersex humans contend with. But I decided against sending in Big Girl's feathers for DNA testing at that time, since the lab said they could only determine the most predominate sex, and I couldn't find any labs that could determine if she was Both genders. I decided I would wait until Big Girl passed away before seeking testing. And now I'm sadly back much sooner than I had hoped to be.

Big Girl began to slowly but surely lose weight over the past few months. (I picked her up at least once weekly to check.) Throughout her gradual weight loss, Big Girl continued to exhibit her normal behaviors and interact with her flock. To the end she remained a happy carefree chicken. If not for the weight loss I never would have known anything was wrong. But a few days before she died, I saw her slightly sway/stumble while standing beneath my feet, and knew the end of her life was drawing near. I once again tried to find a lab that could test to determine if her DNA showed she was intersex. After no luck I contacted my state lab that performs avian necropsies. The veterinary pathologist verified that "Yes, Big Girl's gonads can be microscopically examined to see if they contain both ova and testicular tissue." So when Big Girl died, I sent her body in for testing.

I will post the full necropsy report if anyone wants to read it. (And when I figure out how to transfer the report from email to here, and delete my personal information contained in the report.) For those who don't wish to read through it, below are the results. FYI I paid for a gross necropsy to determine her cause of death, as well as microscoscopic examination of her reproductive tissues.

Gross Necropsy Examination:
Reproductive system: The oviduct is small and immature. In the area of the ovary are two oblong, tan gonads that appear similiar to testicles.
Gross Necropsy Diagnosis:
Adenocarcinoma with carcinomatosis
Intersex

Comments:
The changes to the gonads and the external characteristics of this chicken support the clinical suspicion of this chicken being intersex.

Histopathy Of Select Tissues:
Cause of death: metatastic carcinoma
Gonad: Ovotestes

Comments: The gross diagnosis of this chicken being an intersex bird is confirmed on histologic examination of the gonads and reproductive tract.

Thank you to everyone who posted or reacted on Big Girl's thread. I am now going to tag all of you to be sure you learn her official gender results, since before we all could only speculate. I apologize if I've missed anybody.
@Mhcanupp @kurby22 @azygous @Iluveggers @LadiesAndJane @EmmaEsme @Jasna Jov @Sammster @Shadrach @TheHerbs3 @Aquira @SueT @Isadora @BirdsBeesTrees @Lacy Duckwing @ChickenLeg @Tervuren @ColtHandorf @CoconutCoffee @Jenessa_096 @aldarita @Cecisflock @JacinLarkwell @Weeg @LaFleche @3KillerBs @sourland @RubelliteRose @ButtonHoarder @Paz @Overo Mare @Chickengirl2671 @Sortacountrychicken @NatJ @HollowOfWisps @6 Beach Chicks @JedJackson @tripletfeb @aart @Bigtom Turkey @Lenny loves chickens

Big Girl was both male and female. She had an oviduct, ovary and testes.
View attachment 3297942
View attachment 3297952

But that combination caused her to be sterile and exhibit no sexual behaviors of either gender, other than a brief period of time when she was two years old and semi-crowed, and also ocassionally when she clucked like a hen. Big Girl was very unique in appearance and had a very gentle nature. I will always miss her presence among her flock.
View attachment 3298034

I am so sorry you lost Big Girl and what a gift of knowledge s/he left you in death. Fascinating and a gorgeous bird.