The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: kaz on November 19, 2008, 06:30:54 pm

Title: Is it a hen or a cockeral?
Post by: kaz on November 19, 2008, 06:30:54 pm

 I have a chicken that lays eggs :D :D Well I hear you say so do mine, but today I definately saw that same chicken as it is the only completely black one, doing the dirty with a black rock in the wood store. Is that possible  or am I definately going senile, I have my doubts.

Can someone put my mind at rest. ??? ??? ???

Title: Re: Is it a hen or a cockeral?
Post by: Rosemary on November 19, 2008, 08:55:58 pm

Are you sure it wasn't just a dominance thing?

Title: Re: Is it a hen or a cockeral?
Post by: kaz on November 19, 2008, 09:20:27 pm

Well I did get a reminder that I was due for an eye test.

Title: Re: Is it a hen or a cockeral?
Post by: garden cottage on November 20, 2008, 05:59:38 am

bisexual chickens?  whatever next, have made a phone call some gentlemen in white coats on their way ;D ;D ;D

Title: Re: Is it a hen or a cockeral?
Post by: kaz on November 20, 2008, 07:02:42 am

I also saw pink elephants running up the wall!!!!!!

Title: Re: Is it a hen or a cockeral?
Post by: Birdie Wife on November 20, 2008, 11:15:18 am

One of my hens started crowing a few years ago.  She had been the bottom of the pack previously and over a period of a few weeks she stopped laying, started pushing the other hens around and making very definite crowing noises!! She switched back to being a hen after a while though   ;)

Title: Re: Is it a hen or a cockeral?
Post by: doganjo on November 20, 2008, 12:30:10 pm

I had one that did that but didn't change back to being a hen.  She stayed male for about 2 years then died.  I have heard ducks can change sex so perhaps chickens can too?

Title: Re: Is it a hen or a cockeral?
Post by: kaz on November 20, 2008, 04:22:36 pm

Its funny, I had my doubts about this chicken when young as thought it was a cockeral as showed all the signs of being one,  but then it started to lay eggs so didn't have the fate of the rest of the boys.

Perhaps it's only in drag waiting for the time to come out.

Title: Re: Is it a hen or a cockeral?
Post by: doganjo on November 20, 2008, 06:25:46 pm

Do you know, I have NEVER actually seen any of mine lay an egg - did you actually see this one laying?  Or was it just the correct number of eggs there.  After reading that they can lay twice in one day I would be suspicious.

Title: Re: Is it a hen or a cockeral?
Post by: Rosemary on November 20, 2008, 07:14:29 pm

I'm sure I've read somewhere that hens can turn into cockerels or at least cockerel-like. It's some sort of hormone imbalance. I'll see if I can find the article.

Title: Re: Is it a hen or a cockeral?
Post by: kaz on November 20, 2008, 07:42:03 pm

Definately laid an egg as when pop hole opened it went hi tailing it into the barn to sit on the bales of straw where some of them lay. I waited  a few mintues, it had all the actions and then there was this damp egg. ???

And in reply to Rosemary - look forward to any info you find.

Title: Re: Is it a hen or a cockeral?
Post by: Hilarysmum on November 21, 2008, 08:16:03 am

My cockerel waits for his favourite ladies to lay, then hops up and down making egg laying noises.  (He also produces mostly girls now is this connected?)