Rural/Farm Life

hedgehog

(36,286 posts) Wed Feb 19, 2014, 12:05 PM Feb 2014

One of my hens now looks like a rooster -

either that, or someone snuck in and gave me a New Hampshire Red rooster!

It turns out that if the hen's right ovary is damaged, the left ovary takes over, but it is more dedicated to pumping out testosterone than eggs. So my hen looks like a rooster, but she's still acts like a hen.

The bird is still a good looking bird!

4 replies

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One of my hens now looks like a rooster - (Original Post) hedgehog Feb 2014 OP

We had one of those... dixiegrrrrl Feb 2014 #1

Oh Noes! A gay chicken? pscot Feb 2014 #2

I wonder if that is what happened to a Rhode Island Red I had. fasttense Feb 2014 #3

I've seen some of my hens do that - I think it's part of the pecking order. hedgehog Feb 2014 #4

dixiegrrrrl

(60,011 posts)

1. We had one of those...

Reply to hedgehog (Original post)

Wed Feb 19, 2014, 12:30 PM

Feb 2014

It looked like, and acted like, a half grown hen, for months.
Much much longer than normal.....was much smaller than the rest of the flock.
Then one day, rooster characteristics showed up. But it was still only 2/3 size of its clutch mates...
We gave it away to someone who liked it.

pscot

(21,040 posts)

2. Oh Noes! A gay chicken?

Reply to hedgehog (Original post)

Wed Feb 19, 2014, 12:30 PM

Feb 2014

fasttense

(17,301 posts)

3. I wonder if that is what happened to a Rhode Island Red I had.

Reply to hedgehog (Original post)

Fri Feb 21, 2014, 08:26 AM

Feb 2014

She was laying eggs and everything like a hen, but would mount the other hens several times a day as if she were a rooster. The real Rooster didn't seem to mind and he never mounted her.

hedgehog

(36,286 posts)

4. I've seen some of my hens do that - I think it's part of the pecking order.

Reply to fasttense (Reply #3)

Fri Feb 21, 2014, 12:21 PM

Feb 2014

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