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Probably a stupid questoin- but anyway...

Discussion in 'Chicken Behaviors and Egglaying' started by fresheggs4u, May 8, 2008.

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  1. May 8, 2008 #1
    fresheggs4u

    fresheggs4u Songster

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    I have 24 hens. Blsck Sex links ,Australorps and one dark brahma.

    I have one hen that appears to be very agressive to the other hens. Now here the queston.

    I witnessed today the agressive hen doing what a rooster is supposed to do, and that is not crowing , to one of the other hens. There are no significant difference in the appearance of this one and the others. No larger cone, no size difference or anything. Now the agrressive hen also is noisy, but does not crow as a normal rooster.

    Could this be a rooster and not a hen. I don't have a way to take a picture to post. Sorry! Behavior wise what do you think?

    I have set four eggs in an incubator to see if they are fertile. I have noticed my eggs have a small bullseye in the yokes, but not a huge one.

    I guess I'll find out in three weeks!

    Thanks! Let me know your thoughts.
     
  2. May 8, 2008 #2
    fullhouse

    fullhouse Songster

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    I have a very "male" acting hen. If she didn't lay eggs I would bet she was a he. [​IMG]
     
  3. May 8, 2008 #3
    Davaroo

    Davaroo Poultry Crank

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    Im assuming you have NO roosters that you are aware of.

    Without knowing their age, suffice it to say YES to your question. Roosters will become obvious by 4-6 months. In the absence of a male, there is usually one hen that becomes alpha and essentially assumes the dominant role. She basically becomes a "hen cock."

    She dominates the others and even tries to mimic the cocks call with a "hencrow." This is likely what you are seeing played out in your flock.

    All very fascinating, really. Chickens have a complex social life, little imagined by most.
    Did you know they can recognise up to a hundred flock mates? To us they all look the same, but they will react harshly to outsiders which they dont recognise.
     
  4. May 8, 2008 #4
    fresheggs4u

    fresheggs4u Songster

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    NO Rooster that I know of. The one i did have became very agressive and I have small grandkids so he ended up in the stew pot.

    They are all about 18 months old.
     
  5. May 8, 2008 #5
    Wolf-Kim

    Wolf-Kim Songster

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    If those eggs turn out fertile, then she is a he. LOL. It is very very improbable that the hens are self-fertilizing.

    They can act like a cock almost perfectly, but they still can't "get the job done."

    Please, let us know if those eggs turn out fertile. I'm interested to know the outcome.

    Too bad you cannot post pictures!

    -Kim
     

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