my egg laying hen started crowing...?

[WhitneyJo]

One of my hens started crowing the other night....she is almost 2 years old, she is a regular egg layer. She is in with a Rooster. I've heard of boss hens stepping up to a rooster role when there isn't a rooster present, but what gives with her? I've been researching and saw that spontaneous sex reversal is possible, I'm really hoping that doesn't happen. Anyone have any similar experiences? I have a video but having difficulty uploading it. Thank you

 

[ChickenGirl555]

Either gender can crow, but roosters are more likely to and especially more likely to at a much younger age. It's not unusual, just not common.

 

[okccpa]

Hey there, Whitney. Have you noticed this hen laying fewer eggs? This is a condition that can happen if the ovaduct gets inflamed or infected. It causes more testosterone to be produced, and ultimately can cause a female hen to slowly gain rooster characteristics, including saddle feathers, waddles, etc.

 

[WhitneyJo]

Hey there, Whitney. Have you noticed this hen laying fewer eggs? This is a condition that can happen if the ovaduct gets inflamed or infected. It causes more testosterone to be produced, and ultimately can cause a female hen to slowly gain rooster characteristics, including saddle feathers, waddles, etc.

That’s what I was reading about. :/ I can’t honestly say I’ve noticed a decrease in her laying, she just started crowing two nights ago and up until then she’s been laying pretty regular, every 2-3 days. She just laid yesterday so now I will definitely be on the look out for her next egg.

 

[keesmom]

Has she had her 1.5-2 year molt yet?

 

[WhitneyJo]

Has she had her 1.5-2 year molt yet?

No she hasn’t

 

[aart]

I have a video but having difficulty uploading it. Thank you

Upload to youtube or vimeo then paste a link here.

Anyone have any similar experiences?

Yep but she wasn't laying at the time.
Are you positive she's laying....and didn't molt?

 

[WhitneyJo]

Video.....See if this works

 

[WhitneyJo]

Upload to youtube or vimeo then paste a link here.

Yep but she wasn't laying at the time.
Are you positive she's laying....and didn't molt?

I just posted a video, I'm 100% sure she was laying (as of 3 days ago) and hasn't molted....I haven't heard her crow again since that day.

 

[keesmom]

Over the years I've had crowing hens. Most were 4+ years of age, but still laying sporadically. For some reason they felt the need to chime in with the males from time to time. Most often in spring.

Of the 2 that were young when they started, one was molting and not laying. The current one is more perplexing. She's not yet 3, not at the top of the pecking order, and crows along with the boys spring and summer. She'll hop up onto a high spot, flap her wings and let loose. She laid well into last fall.

I guess sometimes they just want to sound off. None of mine ever developed any secondary male characteristics, and even the old ones continued to lay somewhat.