Is this a hen or "transgender " roo?

[dynomy]

well you must, I dont have any that old.

 

[Jen2848]

Hi everyone. This "hen" has been crowing lately. She doesn't have any spurs like a normal roo. Months ago there were eggs but not for at least 4. Thought it was because of cold temps. Now, she whines like a baby all the time and I caught her crowing. We always thought it was the polish "Tina". I have attached pictures of both birds (sorry quality isn't so great). We never hear Tina (polish) utter a sound except for an occasional squawk from being picked on.
Last summer I had to separate Tina from the others when my other Polish passed, and for about 2 weeks there were eggs. Not anymore.
The black one is an Astrolorp. The other also passed a week after the Polish did. Local feral cat attack, since then animal control caught it.View attachment 1380797 View attachment 1380798 View attachment 1380801 View attachment 1380803
Does anyone know what we have?

I have had two hens who started crowing in their older age. I even had one hen who grew spurs. They were both over 5 years old.

 

[dynomy]

Thank you!! I try.

 

[dynomy]

I have had two hens who started crowing in their older age. I even had one hen who grew spurs. They were both over 5 years old.

 

[dynomy]

I have had two hens who started crowing in their older age. I even had one hen who grew spurs. They were both over 5 years old.

 

[dynomy]

So how old, really, do most hens live?

 

[sawilliams]

I think they can live 8-10 years some up to 15.

I was going to piont out you said the one not laying is 7? She's done laying she might give you one here or there but most are done around 5 years or so, high laying breeds usually quit sooner then heritage low laying breeds. I wouldn't worry about getting eggs from her anymore, I wouldn't even worry about a vet check just know she may be getting close to her time to go, or she may live out a few eggless years

My oldest hens are about 4yrs old and I'm down to half of them, already.

 

[dynomy]

I think they can live 8-10 years some up to 15.

I was going to piont out you said the one not laying is 7? She's done laying she might give you one here or there but most are done around 5 years or so, high laying breeds usually quit sooner then heritage low laying breeds. I wouldn't worry about getting eggs from her anymore, I wouldn't even worry about a vet check just know she may be getting close to her time to go, or she may live out a few eggless years

My oldest hens are about 4yrs old and I'm down to half of them, already.

 

[dynomy]

Thank you for that info. One or two had died over the past few months and I thought it might also be that they were old. I had a cute bantam wyandotte hen since 2011. We called her black pants because all the feathers on her legs were black (ok, I know corny). She was a great producer for at least 4 and a half years and then spotty after that. She was getting kind of lazy and out of touch with the others one day and some of them started picking on her. Then, the next morning she wouldn't come out of the coop. She let me just pick her up - then I knew there was a problem. I carried her around hard for about 15 minutes or so to keep the others away from her and went back into the coop. All she wanted to do was drink water. Literally. I turned for about a minute to clean a box, heard her shutter and then she was gone. That quick. Sad.

 

[sawilliams]

Thank you for that info. One or two had died over the past few months and I thought it might also be that they were old. I had a cute bantam wyandotte hen since 2011. We called her black pants because all the feathers on her legs were black (ok, I know corny). She was a great producer for at least 4 and a half years and then spotty after that. She was getting kind of lazy and out of touch with the others one day and some of them started picking on her. Then, the next morning she wouldn't come out of the coop. She let me just pick her up - then I knew there was a problem. I carried her around hard for about 15 minutes or so to keep the others away from her and went back into the coop. All she wanted to do was drink water. Literally. I turned for about a minute to clean a box, heard her shutter and then she was gone. That quick. Sad.

Im sorry to hear that it's alwats hard losing a chicken.