Large Comb on a Tiny Hen

[junebuggena]

Oh, her comb is fine! I have plenty of roosters and this is one of my hen's comb:

View attachment 1147672

Now yes... Sometimes I contemplate if she is a bit- you know-

Spoiler: Don't Tell Her

Defective.

But she is my best egg layer, sweetest hen and I raised her in my room!!

Now yes, some hens will change sex if they don't have a rooster. Crowing and mating hens... Are normally one of those culprits. A bigger comb doesn't play a part in that though.

As long as your hen acts fine, she looks perfect!

And to your egg question, some hens look egg-bound when they produce an egg. Granite, some hens are... But it's normal at times. My SF hens stands straight up straight down like a penguin... PLOP. There's a pretty lil' egg underneath her.

Good luck, God bless! (Those are beautiful hens too!)

-The Angry Hen

Hens don't change sex if there is no rooster around. It's not physically possible for a hen to change sex. Hens that develop rooster characteristics do so because their functioning ovary is compromised due to infection or a tumor. They remain genetically female.

 

[The Angry Hen]

Hens don't change sex if there is no rooster around. It's not physically possible for a hen to change sex. Hens that develop rooster characteristics do so because their functioning ovary is compromised due to infection or a tumor. They remain genetically female.

Oh yes, I know. Thanks for correcting me. It is IMPOSSIBLE for any chicken to literally change sex. And yes, normally something causes it from something inside. Thanks again for correcting me- what I mentioned before was not what was on my mind as coming across.

 

[AnonPaperclip]

Can you get a clean side shot of the "eelsummer"? The earlobe i can see appears white, which would indicate a brown leghorn, expected to have significant comb.

The standing is normal....hens rest laying down as they prepare to lay but the moment of expulsion cues a standing position for expulsive straining, which may last a few seconds to several minutes

Thanks! I'll get a picture of her once I get home.

 

[igorsMistress]

All my girls have bigger, redder combs than they did a couple months ago when they first started laying. Even the EE with her little pea comb.
I've read that some hens will even grow spurs in the absence of a roo, crow, and possibly try to mount the other girls.
Makes me think of Jurrasic Park...nature tries to find a way

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

All my girls have bigger, redder combs than they did a couple months ago when they first started laying. Even the EE with her little pea comb.
I've read that some hens will even grow spurs in the absence of a roo, crow, and possibly try to mount the other girls.
Makes me think of Jurrasic Park...nature tries to find a way

Spur development in females is not related to the presence or absence of a male, but rather just part of the individuality of birds

 

[PirateGirl]

The growing bigger redder comb is a sign that she's reached maturity and is laying or will lay soon. This is all good and normal from what I understand.

I only have one of five laying right now and I'm certain it's got to be the one with the enormous comb compared to the rest. Once it started getting big it got huge fast, maybe in the time of a week and a half.

It's normal to question their sex. Ironically the only one of mine that's laying is the one I thought might be a rooster for the longest time. Definitely the meanest of the ladies, and one of the biggest as well.

 

[igorsMistress]

Spur development in females is not related to the presence or absence of a male, but rather just part of the individuality of birds

Interesting, thank you!

 

[AnonPaperclip]

Spur development in females is not related to the presence or absence of a male, but rather just part of the individuality of birds

Really?
One of my other Welsummers (who's much bigger) has little bumps on her legs that are about in the right spot where a faverolle's fifth toe would be. The Welsummer in this post has the same bumps but much smaller.