Transgender?

[slipperlady]

I am not new to this, we've had chickens for about 6 years, but we recently got a California white hen and she laid large white eggs. She stopped laying months ago and now it seems like she is trying to crow? Is this something anyone else has experienced?

 

[DobieLover]

Hello and welcome activity on BYC! Nice to meet.
I have not experienced it but I have certainly heard of it.

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Welcome to our FUNomenal Flock!
Grab a roost & enjoy your time here!

 

[N F C]

If you click on Search Forums and type in the keywords "crowing hen" you will find a lot of posts about this and maybe some explanations too. I've never experienced it, but it isn't unheard of.

Best wishes!

 

[Kusanar]

Hens like all female animals produce testosterone, if something happens to their ovaries (hens only have 1 actually) then they don't produce estrogen to balance out and overpower the testosterone and will essentially turn into a non reproducing male.

It does happen, not super often, but it happens enough to be "a thing"

 

[drumstick diva]

Thank you Kusanar for making this a learning opportunity, it's all new to me.

 

[Kusanar]

Thank you Kusanar for making this a learning opportunity, it's all new to me.

Some animals actually switch all the way over. Clownfish for example, they have a large school but only 1 male. If the male dies, then the biggest female turns into a fully functioning male until something happens to that one and then another one switches over. Makes Finding Nemo a very interesting movie...

 

[featherhead007]

My hen has spurs! and still lays eggs FYI

 

[orloffer]

Welcome to BYC! There is so much to see, do, and learn here!

 

[casportpony]

I am not new to this, we've had chickens for about 6 years, but we recently got a California white hen and she laid large white eggs. She stopped laying months ago and now it seems like she is trying to crow? Is this something anyone else has experienced?

Over the last 20 years, I've probably had ~25 hens do this.