Sex change?

[azure_]

I think my hen who has been laying is trying to turn into a rooster... and making the most annoying sound. Is there any way to prevent this gender switch?

 

[Bear1978]

Sometimes if there is no rooster in a flock the dominant hen will take on the role of a rooster and will attempt to crow. So perhaps that’s what it is?

 

[azure_]

Yeah, I'm adding two roosters to the flock (all girl flock) and am wondering if this dominant hen rooster thing will be a problem, one of the roosters I'm adding is a bantam, the flock is all standard sized. I'm adding bantam hen with the roo. Will not be a problem? Should I get rid of the hen roo chicken?

 

[WallyBirdie]

I think my hen who has been laying is trying to turn into a rooster... and making the most annoying sound. Is there any way to prevent this gender switch?

Not sure if it's a gender switch. Sometimes a hen does attempt to crow... Then again, anything is possible? I am convinced one of my guinea fowl switched. Made the single syllable male call and went years without laying (I lost my females in an unfortunate accident). Then, eggs randomly started showing up and the call changed.
No idea what happened.

What happens with your birds, good luck!

 

[Gray Farms]

Hens can stop laying, start crowing "kinda", and sometimes even grow male specific feathers "sickle and saddle". But they can not truly switch genders.

 

[azure_]

Hens can stop laying, start crowing "kinda", and sometimes even grow male specific feathers "sickle and saddle". But they can not truly switch genders.

So would they basically be an infertile rooster?

 

[Gray Farms]

So would they basically be an infertile rooster?

No, they would still be a hen.

 

[Quickster]

Here is a picture of my old hen turned rooster impersonator. She is 6 and when she lost all of her flock mates, she grew a huge comb and started crowing.

 

[azure_]

Here is a picture of my old hen turned rooster impersonator. She is 6 and when she lost all of her flock mates, she grew a huge comb and started crowing. View attachment 2320732

Yep thats life