mrsallen08 Posted August 6, 2008 Share Posted August 6, 2008 (edited) Hiya I don't know if this has been posted before but I am slightly worried about my hen! We bought her at 12 weeks old and now she is around 22 weeks old but starting to crow in the mornings like a cockrel!!!! We bought her from a friend who knows a lot about chickens and he assured us she was a she but she sounds like a he! It is only when we let her out first thing in the morning she will crow for about 20mins (not nonstop thank god) and then that will be it for the rest of the day, unless a cat is around which gets another blast of cockadoodling! Any help would be great! Q.worried now what to do with her/him!? Thank Heather Edited August 16, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clootie Posted August 6, 2008 Share Posted August 6, 2008 Hmm, you have a he it seems. It can be difficult to sex them and sometimes they are sexed as female but turn out to be male - as in your case it seems. I had one like that. He was called Nancy (after a friend of mine)! There's a name for this but I can't remember what that is at the mo. Egluntine will know for sure. Sorry, I'm absolutely no help whatsoever! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsallen08 Posted August 6, 2008 Author Share Posted August 6, 2008 To start with she sounded more like a quacking (randomly!) but now it is like a full blown crowing! I'm a little worried now as we also bought 3 chicks a while ago when they were 5 weeks old! Please don't let them be boys! :'( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 6, 2008 Share Posted August 6, 2008 Can you post a picture of him/her? Can you compare her appearance to that of the others. What are the comb and wattles like? Are the tail feathers more flambouyant? Are the hackle feathers rounded or pointy at the ends? (pointy = boy) Has s/he got a sturdier stance and chunkier legs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clootie Posted August 6, 2008 Share Posted August 6, 2008 Hmm.... I wouldn't be taking bets I'm afraid. But, you never know, you could be lucky and all three are ladies!! Good luck!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsallen08 Posted August 6, 2008 Author Share Posted August 6, 2008 okay, photos not working and I need to get off to work. Had a look at hen/cock and she just looks like the other hens really. Slightyl redder comb and bigger wattles but the way she/he walks and legs are all the same. They don't crow though! Any more advice of things to look out for would be great! I'll chat 2moro a.m and hopefully sort a photo! Thanks Heather x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Looney Posted August 6, 2008 Share Posted August 6, 2008 One of my chickens makes really loud noises, sort of a mix between a honk, a bray and a shout! Usually she does this when first up in the morning, when she or her friend have laid an egg, when there is a cat in the garden..... Is it definitely a cockadoodledoo or perhaps (fingers crossed) she could just be a bit vocal like my Doris? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkymark Posted August 6, 2008 Share Posted August 6, 2008 I am having a similar problem, a fluting 'doodleoo' call in the morning from the dominant chicken demanding to be let out. Same shape as the female, but more pronounced comb/wattles... Does the crow lengthen to a cockadoodledoo as they get older, or is this a chicken having me on? They're only 8 weeks old... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted August 6, 2008 Share Posted August 6, 2008 Same shape as the female, but more pronounced comb/wattles... Doesn't sound to hopeful I'm afraid Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsallen08 Posted August 6, 2008 Author Share Posted August 6, 2008 Hi Hopefully this has worked now! This is the cock/hen in question. Does look rather 'butch' here, hmm... TBH though the others are a similar shape and so are feathers around tail and legs etc. The only difference we can see is that his/her comb is more profound like sparkymark said. Okay, cast your votes... cockrel or hen???[/img] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted August 6, 2008 Share Posted August 6, 2008 Cockerel! Look at all that green in his tail, chunky legs, cockerel stance! (well thats my best guess anyway ) Edited to add: just google images of RIR chickens - males have the green tails. And the pics of the roosters definitely look like your 'boy' Sorry! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 6, 2008 Share Posted August 6, 2008 I'd say s/he's a chap from that photo. Have you checked the hackle feathers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Brown Clan Posted August 6, 2008 Share Posted August 6, 2008 Cockerel! Look at all that green in his tail, chunky legs, cockerel stance! (well thats my best guess anyway ) Edited to add: just google images of RIR chickens - males have the green tails. And the pics of the roosters definitely look like your 'boy' Sorry! I aggree ( although am really new to this so not at all an expert like Snowy Howells and Egluatine) but it deffinatly looks like a cockerel to me too ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clootie Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 Oh dear Mrs A - looks like it's a majority vote. Fingers crossed for your chicks being girlies! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 Cockerel to me The tail and stance are boyish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsallen08 Posted August 7, 2008 Author Share Posted August 7, 2008 Hiya When I looked at that photo last night I just knew it. Its only when you look at them like that when I saw it. I have to say he/she's not a full RIR but that was nearest breed to describe them. Aahhh, husband is contacting his friend where we bought him from tonight to take him back! He will be able to keep him there without fear of environmental health visitng! Thank you so much for all your help! Could you clear up one thing that I was told, I don't know of its true or not.. Sometimes in groups of hens one will take a masculine role and start to crow??? This is why we didnt check sooner with 'Roastie!' Thanks again, Heather Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 HiyaWhen I looked at that photo last night I just knew it. Its only when you look at them like that when I saw it. I have to say he/she's not a full RIR but that was nearest breed to describe them. Aahhh, husband is contacting his friend where we bought him from tonight to take him back! He will be able to keep him there without fear of environmental health visitng! Thank you so much for all your help! Could you clear up one thing that I was told, I don't know of its true or not.. Sometimes in groups of hens one will take a masculine role and start to crow??? This is why we didnt check sooner with 'Roastie!' Thanks again, Heather Glad you are able to take the chicken back. Hope you haven't got too attached. You're also right about some chickens changing gender. My friend has one that has done! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsallen08 Posted August 11, 2008 Author Share Posted August 11, 2008 (edited) Okay update! Husband spoke to breeder at weekend and he said at 22 weeks old chook would be obviously a boy compared to others. All 3 are from same mum and dad so will be same shape size etc. Which they all are and although in pic legs look quite thick others are same. Ahhhh! So confusing! Plus at the weekend she/he only squawked in morning when first let out and when there was cats. Breeder said he/she would crow all day long if a boy. I read on here earlier that hens do make a lot of noise when coming in to lay? After hearing a real cockerel the other day while walking, mine definately doesn't screech so much and is more of a squawk shout rather than cockledoodledoo. So am I being overoptimistic and fobbed off by breeder? What do I have!? Here is a pic of all 3 together to show same shape etc. The cock/hen is on the left at the back. http://img120.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1000419xd9.jpg Edited August 11, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 I think the breeder is having you on. Can you post pictures of them all for comparison? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Electricbarbarella Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 I am totally new to this, but did quite a lot of research as we got a cockrel in our chooks which had to go back, I would say that definatley looks like a cokrel, it is the tail feathers, they seem a lot longer and mopre curled than any hens. Did the breeder say they would have it back or not, if you wait a little longer to be sure will they have it back? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsallen08 Posted August 11, 2008 Author Share Posted August 11, 2008 Just added a pic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moomin Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 You're right they all look the same! But very cockeralish!! Maybe you'd better see if they start to lay - shouldn't be long if they are 22 weeks now! Then you'll be sure! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 Can you check out the hackle feathers? Are they rounded or pointed at the ends. They all look like cockerels I'm afraid. You will know for sure when you hear crowing, or find eggs in the nest box. Here is a pic of a RIR hen. Here is a RIR rooster....a mature one admittedly, but the differences are there to see. I'd have them back to the breeder toot sweet. Sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 Sounds to me the breeder is trying to get out of having him back. Just checked out the photo though and they all look like boys to me, so fingers crossed for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surferdog Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 Just a thought - could they be crossed with Game Hens somewhere in their ancestory? They look very 'cockeraley' as well! http://www.darvillsrareprints.com/Images/images/Wright%20Poultry/Wheaten-Game-Hen.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...