[dyedinthewool]

It's a Cockerel...
My cockerel turned up his toes; then a few weeks later one of my old hens started to 'tread' a couple of the younger hens?
 
Is this 'normal'? for hens who don't have a cockerel to keep them in check.  They did look for him for a few days but then settled down to a less stressful life.  Some may have even been glad he wasn't jumping on them every five minutes....
 
I've now put her in a pen of her own as I'm fed up with seeing bald henny's running round.
 
Is there anything I can do to stop her thinking/being a cockerel.  She hasn't laid any eggs for weeks.
 
Or is it a case of dispatchment.

[in the hills]

I think it is quite normal and harmless. If no cockerel is around, one of the high ranking hens will assume the role of the cock bird. We had it happen a lot before we kept cockerels. They will act as look out and sometimes go through the motions of treading the other hens  .


Personally I can't see any need to dispatch or separate her .... in fact another hen might eventually take on the role if you do ..... unless of course she is damaging the others by her actions. Mine never caused any harm and did not tread as often as a cockerel would.


Are you the Dyedinthewool who creates wonderful knits?  If not then just ignore me as you won't know what I'm babbling about. 

[ZaktheLad]

Or is it a case of dispatchment.

Are you related to SteveHants by any chance?! 

[darkbrowneggs]

If she hasn't laid for sometime, and maybe her comb/wattles saddle feathers are developing to look a bit boylike its possible that she has had an un-noticed illness which has affected her ovary.  As chickens only have one functioning ovary if it is damaged they will develop male characteristic due to hormone problems.  I have heard of people with crowing hens which laid, but not had one myself. 


My view is that if she isnt laying eggs unless she is moulting or a loved pet, then the damage caused by treading the hens is probably not worth keeping her around, but I tend to view chickens as livestock rather than companion animals.  Doesnt mean I am not kind to them / fond of them - just gives things a different slant, and I do like a nice boiled fowl or chicken soup........

[graham-j]

Hi,I agree with you there DBE.
I used to have a Silver Spangled Hamburg that crowed,it continued to lay eggs,it didn't do any treading but it did grow some huge spurs.

Graham.

[sokel]

I had a Black leghorn that layed eggs, sat on them and hatched its chicks, 1 day it was in the ark and she started to crow , it was a muffled sort of crow but definatly a crow. she did this off and on for a couple of years then stopped