4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Biker Chick]

 

Hi Eveyone,

Was wondering if anyone can tell if its usual for a a supposedly girl chicken "trying it on" with the other girls.

 

I have had Primrose now for about 4 weeks and I was told that she was about 18 weeks POL. I have 3 other girls and they are all laying very well, but nothing from Primrose. The other girls tend to have a little peck at Primrose if given the chance, say at feeding time, but otherwise they all get on well. I have seen Primrose jump on top of Brenda a couple of times and this evening she was on top of Poppy (who happens to be Head Chook). I would have thought that if Primrose was a boy surely she/he would be crowing by now. She hasnt got an spurs, but she has grown suddenly and got quite tall.

 

I have tried to post a photo of Primrose and spent most of the evening on photobucket so I hope it comes out ok.

 

Please can someone advise me

 

Thanks

[Falkor]

I think it is hormones...she is coming into lay so her levels are a bit off.

 

I went through exactly the same thing when Gin was coming into lay....I convinced myself she was a chap!

 

As newbies come into lay it can affect the pecking order so there could be a skirmish or two....or it will be really calm like my last two newbies

[Biker Chick]

Thank you very much for your quick response. I really am hoping that it is a hormone thing.

 

Not a very "butch" name if Primrose was a boy

[beach chick]

she's lovely, looks just like our Spot! I think it is a kind of teenage/hormonal/prelaying thing. we had one (bought at 10-12 weeks) who turned out to be a boy, and it was quite obvious.

[Egluntyne]

She does have rather a lot if headgear for an 18 week chicken. How does it compare to that of her companions of the same age?

[Biker Chick]

I do think she has more headgear than the others and this morning I have been studying her (must be the most watched hen!!) and I am thinking she also has more tail feathers than the others

 

What age do most cockerels start crowing ??

 

Perhaps I need to box her up and take her back to where I got her from and ask them

 

I really dont want or need a cockerel. I thought it would be a lot easier to tell the sex of a chicken than this

[Egluntyne]

Can you post a picture of her standing, to include her legs and give an idea of her stance?

 

I have an almost 16 week cockerel who hasn't crowed yet.

[Biker Chick]

 

I have taken this photo this morning.

 

Hope its the righ size

[Egluntyne]

She looks like a hen to me in that photo.

 

Her odd behaviour will be a dominance thing in all likelihood.......unless she starts crowing.

[Henhathnofury]

Is she a Speckled Sussex? I have one of those and she is a madam. At the moment she is lying on top of a poor chicken trying to lay an egg. She is always doing it, as she loves being dominant!