My 29 week old hen has stopped laying an started trying to crow..

[2 chiks n a roo]

My girls have been laying well since they were 14-16 wks old. My 2 older girls have been regular until the last two weeks where one has backed off with her eggs and none for about 4 days. Her legs have gotten thicker and I noticed more yellow than her sister, today she's trying to crow... Which is setting her daddy off!
Goldie is quite big, she's definitely a girl, she's been laying..
I know hens can change sex and become roosters without the ability to fertilize eggs, but does anyone know if/how the change can be stopped?

I planned to breed from her next year..

I'll add a pic later, it's raining so I've had to use a big cage to give them an extended dry space

 

[MysteryChicken]

My girls have been laying well since they were 14-16 wks old. My 2 older girls have been regular until the last two weeks where one has backed off with her eggs and none for about 4 days. Her legs have gotten thicker and I noticed more yellow than her sister, today she's trying to crow... Which is setting her daddy off!
Goldie is quite big, she's definitely a girl, she's been laying..
I know hens can change sex and become roosters without the ability to fertilize eggs, but does anyone know if/how the change can be stopped?

I planned to breed from her next year..

I'll add a pic later, it's raining so I've had to use a big cage to give them an extended dry space

Well, they can't actually change sex, but can get rooster characteristics due to hormone imbalance likely caused by ovary damage. But she could also be making sure everyone knows she's the dominant hen.

I've got two hens that crow. One does it to show anger, the other just crows with the roosters.

 

[2 chiks n a roo]

Well, they can't actually change sex, but can get rooster characteristics due to hormone imbalance likely caused by ovary damage. But she could also be making sure everyone knows she's the dominant hen.

I've got two hens that crow. One does it to show anger, the other just crows with the roosters.

She's only in with her sister but was having words with her dad yesterday through a fence. He's acting as though his son is still here but was sold months ago.
Can the behaviour be stopped? I can't have anything other than their dad crowing, I live in town and he's loud enough even with a collar on.. if she doesn't start laying and acts like a roo, I'll have to kill her

 

[MysteryChicken]

She's only in with her sister but was having words with her dad yesterday through a fence. He's acting as though his son is still here but was sold months ago.
Can the behaviour be stopped? I can't have anything other than their dad crowing, I live in town and he's loud enough even with a collar on.. if she doesn't start laying and acts like a roo, I'll have to kill her

I don't think the behavior can be stopped, unless maybe she loses her place as dominant hen.

 

[2 chiks n a roo]

I don't think the behavior can be stopped, unless maybe she loses her place as dominant hen.

Her sister is the dominant one, fights with everything an she's still laying eggs

 

[MysteryChicken]

Her sister is the dominant one, fights with everything an she's still laying eggs

Some flocks have two head hens, usually there's one that ranks highest.

 

[2 chiks n a roo]

Some flocks have two head hens, usually there's one that ranks highest.

Mine are all in different areas because I don't have a coop yet, still trying to get materials together to build one so I'm using dog run, 2 day runs and a big main run they take turns in.
One of the retired girls died a few days ago an Goldie's been trying to crow since but has only laid 1 egg in over a week

 

[2 chiks n a roo]

Found this..

https://www.thechickentractor.com.au/why-does-my-hen-behave-like-a-rooster/

 

[MysteryChicken]

Mine are all in different areas because I don't have a coop yet, still trying to get materials together to build one so I'm using dog run, 2 day runs and a big main run they take turns in.
One of the retired girls died a few days ago an Goldie's been trying to crow since but has only laid 1 egg in over a week

That's probably the trigger. The older hen dying.

But also the season is also changing now, & egg production is gonna drop abit.

 

[2 chiks n a roo]

That's probably the trigger. The older hen dying.

But also the season is also changing now, & egg production is gonna drop abit.

It's winter here, all 7 lay every day. Their mumma has dropped since she got pneumonia in May, but still laying 3-4 on 1 off. A few thin shells but I expected that with her being sick. The old hen only passed away on Sunday, Goldie's been keeping her doors closed for a week with only 2 eggs in 7 days. They don't get let in with any others, Mira fights.

The younger 5 were a bit sporadic last week but have settled again. I'm wondering if 3 days rain last week slowed them down and they had a bit more wheat than usual because the rain was too heavy to pick them grass.
One was laying after dark a few times but Goldie (2 wks older) has stopped outright. I gave her some baking soda in a mash tonight. Ran out of layer mash so had to give them chick starter. They still get the layer pellets though.

I tried something different when I put them in tonight, I sat with Goldie an made her submit to me getting her to sit for a few minutes. She's very stubborn lol I did it to Mira and the other 5, she didn't like it but sat much quicker than Goldie. The other 5 sat instantly. Not sure if it will make a difference but it's worth a shot. I've got no spare crates so I can't separate her like that article suggests. If it doesn't work, I'll buy another crate next week