question???

[clucksbc]

Recently I got a birchin
a cross between a light sussex and black star sex link...
when I got it home I thought did i get a roo..based on tail and the neck feathers going up...
I emailed back...she says, based on the colouring she is very very sure it is a hen...she seems well experienced
with multiple flocks..
but do hens neck feathers go up?///

I got 3 chickens earlier in the year...two turned out to be roos...the third one did put up the neck feathers
thought it was a hen...
was shock at 7 months when it started crowing...

 

[fatsu]

What exactly do you mean by going up? like when roosters fight the way they fan their feathers out or is it something else?

 

[clucksbc]

sorry this one did it...when I picked it up...
maybe slightly startled at the time...
i have seen it with the roos..when they do there stand up to each other dance...
just wondering if hens are able..to do it...

 

[BasicallyHeather]

Hens can definitely raise their hackle feathers. Mine do it when they are startled or when they are "fluffing up" their feathers to give themselves a good, cleaning shake.

 

[clucksbc]

thank you Heather..
I am a bit rooster shy right now
so very much apreciate the reply..

 

[fshinggrl]

YEs, hens can do it as well.

I hope it all works out for you. I'd be shy too!

 

[donrae]

Oh my hens have fluffed their neck feathers out so much they look like one of those lizard! The really don't like my bantam roo lol.

 

[Lothiriel]

Quote:
I've seen that one too! They'll get into some silly squabble over who knows what, and they'll stand up really tall and their hackles will flare and they'll have a regular rooster fight. Silly hens...