Let's begin with the fact that all we have remaining of our flock are these three hens. If you have been a friend of this blog for a time, then you will know we have had some unfortunate happenings that I won't relive right now but have something to do with....Eagles..and other wildlife inviting themselves over for a meal or two. After the demise of the rooster we decided to take a break for awhile and regroup before adding more back to the flock.
These two are a little over 5 years old and still laying..not as much as before but still we are getting eggs on a regular basis from all three.
Here is how the conversation went.
Me: How are Frederick (the cat) and the chickens?
Mister: Frederick is fine..he is on my lap right now and the chickens are all put away (that means that the coop is locked up and all the beaks have been counted).
Me: That's good.
Mister: One of the chickens is a Rooster.
Me: Pardon me?!
Mister: One of the chickens is a Rooster!
Me: It is not! There are three hens.
Mister: (Getting annoyed) One of the hens is a rooster....It has spurs!!!!
Me: What, are you sure?
Mister: Yes, when I went to count beaks, they were on the roost and there were the spurs, right there on one of the hens.
Me: I don't understand....That can't be, they all three lay eggs and have always been hens.
The conversation went on for awhile and I told him I would check in to this odd thing and we said goodnight.
I decided to call my sister as she has something like, 16 chickens and a rooster..Anyway,. she said she has two older chickens that have grown spurs and was equally shocked when she discovered it. After some web searching we found other reports of the same occurrence.
So, we left it at that and just said it would be added to one of those things about nature that is odd to say the least.
Until.......the other morning...We both woke up to the strange sound of crowing...like a little rooster when it is just learning to crow. Well, it was the chicken..yes, the chicken with the spurs, crowing like a rooster. Three times this week we have had the same alarm and she/he? is getting better all of the time.
So there you go, the strange chicken story has been told..I know the spurs are not unheard of but how about the crowing...Have you ever heard of such a thing?
Much love to you all. xo
26 comments:
Amazing! I know some animals begin life as one gender and then turn into the other, but those are pretty basic sorts of animals - not as complex as a hen! I guess the big question is if it will still lay eggs!
PS when my mum was little she learned to whistle and proudly showed her neighbour, who told her off with the proverb: "Whistling girls and crowing hens, always come to a bad end".
http://www.urbanchickens.net/2007/09/odd-sounds-from-coop-can-hens-crow.html
Conclusive? http://www.livescience.com/13514-sex-change-chicken-gertie-hen-bertie-cockerel.html
OK, yes, conclusive:
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Can_a_chicken_change_its_gender
Hahaha! What a funny little story. And your last image is divine. :) Enjoy your weekend.
That's a great story - but a definite conundrum! Maybe they decided that one of them had to step up and become the "man" of the family? LOL
Sherry
I love this story....but it certainly is a mystery!
Well fish can do that why can't chickens. Very strange though isn't it. I believe it but it is weird.
I was gonna mention that "whistling woman and crowing hen" thing, too, but Floss beat me to it. It happens and I recall spurs on some of the hens at home.
I have never heard of chickens growing spurs, but I have heard that they will sometimes crow like a rooster. It may have something to do with so many of them falling prey to the eagle. If the flock somehow collectively decides it needs protecting, one of the hens will step up and start acting like a rooster.
A transgendered chicken. Hmm. Well, if any of your eggs are fertile, you will know that the transition is complete!
Melanie our big grey hen always crows like a rooster after she's laid her egg- was wondering if we should change her name to Malcolm!
whoaah Nice story :)
I never heard kind of this story.
I no wonder why they are 5 years. You taking care so well. Even you still asked how they are when your not home. You just reminded me of my dad :) my mom doesnt like animal but my dad does.
Blessing to you Sherri.
Delvalina
funny story!
Wow, very interesting, Sherri. Thanks for sharing this great story with us :) I hope you are doing well. I have been wanting to email you and will hopefully get it done this week.
Big hugs to you!
Wow, that is so crazy! Thanks for sharing!! Wishing you a beautiful day and week! xo Heather
since I will likely never own chickens I'm getting my experiences through you...love the pictures and stories...sorry some have been lost to the eagles..
since I will likely never own chickens I'm getting my experiences through you...love the pictures and stories...sorry some have been lost to the eagles..
This is hilarious! And wonderful too. God bless those little birds, whatever gender. I would love to have a flock myself. xx's
Hi Sherri, I love chickens and roosters....(don't have any) but I'm learning a lot here........ Blessings~~~Roxie
I hadn't known about the spurs but I did know that often the dominant hen will start to crow when there's no rooster. In my flock, Bazooka, the youngest one, has taken up a warbly crowing.
oh my ...like Floss I want to know...does it lay!
Fabulous pictures...esp the last!
Thinking of you.
Wow, I know nothing about chickens but that is so strange lol
That is indeed a strange chicken story.
Woooaahhh. I had no idea that was possible! I agree with those who speculate that that hen 'stepped-up' after the death of your rooster. But still, I didn't know chickens could do that.
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