Is it my hen crowing (at 4:30am) or is she a Rooster?!?!

[Anonymous]

HELP!

My hens are now rapidly approaching 19 weeks and my little Minorcan (Nando) has started crowing at 4:30 in the morning, and we definitely don't want a Rooster, but nor do we want a noisy hen (neighbours will not like it, in fact I'm not a fan at the moment!). It started just over a week ago and the crow is getting more "Cock a doodle doo" with each passing morning...

Her bum isn't as fluffy as the others, but then as a Minorcan should it be?! She's also waaaaaaaaaay leggier than the others and not as solid, much more athletic in her body (if that makes sense...) I'm going to ring the breeder once it's a reasonable time in the morning and see what she says, but in the mean time if anyone has any suggestions, it'd be a great help!

Vicki

 

[Tim]

Hi Vicki

Is she definately a hen? Has she laid yet?

Hens can crow though- usually it's the hen that has some hormonal changes. It is possible this is an infected ovary, but more likely to be her trying to take her place in the pecking order.

She may grow out of it, may just crow once in a while or may be a pain to you and you'll have to find her a new flock....

I haven't ever had one but then I have several cockerels and these tend to suppress any male tendancies among hens...

Let us know what happens though...

Tim