dislaney Posted December 9, 2010 Share Posted December 9, 2010 About 12 weeks ago I acquired 2 Columbine hens as part of a group of 4 from a free range mixed flock. Claire looks like a conventional red/white chicken with red comb and wattles, and came into lay about 6 weeks ago, producing dinky green eggs. The second Columbine Avril looks very different - quite a large bird, with striking stripey cream and grey feathers, a perky pom pom crest on her head and pale pink, fairly small wattles. So far she hasn't laid an egg, or showed any interest in doing so. Avril's behaviour is quite different to the other hens - she spends much less time foraging and pecking, and rushes around everywhere in full charge, being very noisy and inquisitive. She will take on our JRX dog by pecking his nose - through the wire fence! - and plucks fur from our cats everytime they brush the side of the fencing as they go past. She also jumps on my back from behind, and likes to ride around the pen on my shoulder, pecking my hat from time to time. Although she is happy to jump on me, she doesn't like to be touched or picked up, dashing off screeching if I so much as brush against her uninvited. Last night I was reading Martin Gurdon's very funny book 'Hen and the art of chicken maintenance' where he describes the behaviour of his transexual chicken Yvette - and I started to wonder if perhaps Avril is a bloke, not a bird! A lot of the behavioural issues seemed to be the same, but in looking online at definitions of cockerels v. hens, I'm not really sure. Can anyone else help with what to look out for? I know that eggs are the defining moment, and if Avril was around 12 weeks old or older when she came to us, she should really be coming into lay now but there just isn't any sign. Avril doesn't crow ....yet! But she does like to stand to full attention quite a lot, and regularly puffs out her ruff and charges poor Claire into a corner. All thoughts gratefully received. Thank heavens for the Omlet forum! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted December 9, 2010 Share Posted December 9, 2010 Any pictures at all? Maybe stood next to Claire? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted December 9, 2010 Share Posted December 9, 2010 Some of mine were 30 weeks when laying and as they mature they face up to each other to sort out the pecking order. When immature they charge around and avoid being touched as you say, so I don't think there is anything there except size and stance that mean boy. What about pointed feathers around hackles and saddle? Has she got stocky legs or elegant ones? Perhaps a picture Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted December 9, 2010 Share Posted December 9, 2010 Avril sounds like a typical Columbine, right colouring, topknot and naughty, flighty lively behaviour Claire doesnt sound like a Columbine but does lay the right colour eggs so must be too Hybrid hens are usually sex linked which means that you can tell the males from the females at hatch so its unlikely that a male made it through but not impossible I suppose Pics would help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dislaney Posted December 9, 2010 Author Share Posted December 9, 2010 Thanks all - will try to get a photo - and then try to upload it: where do I find out how to do that? Avril has stocky legs and slightly pointy hackle feathers - does that help?? Reassuring to know that Columbines are generally crazy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted December 9, 2010 Share Posted December 9, 2010 Avril has stocky legs and slightly pointy hackle feathers - does that help?? Reassuring to know that Columbines are generally crazy oooo that doesnt sound too good...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted December 9, 2010 Share Posted December 9, 2010 Thanks all - will try to get a photo - and then try to upload it: where do I find out how to do that? Info here - Photobucket works quite well viewtopic.php?f=45&t=21972 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dislaney Posted December 9, 2010 Author Share Posted December 9, 2010 Thank you - Photobucket it is! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dislaney Posted December 11, 2010 Author Share Posted December 11, 2010 OK folks - hope I've done this right: What do you reckon?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dislaney Posted December 11, 2010 Author Share Posted December 11, 2010 (edited) Sorry - didn't realise you could post more than one - here's a couple more: This one shows Claire behind Avril: Edited December 11, 2010 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daxigirl Posted December 11, 2010 Share Posted December 11, 2010 It's a bird (I mean girl) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dislaney Posted December 11, 2010 Author Share Posted December 11, 2010 Phew! Is she just a late developer then?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted December 11, 2010 Share Posted December 11, 2010 She looks like a girl to me. I have a cream legbar (upon which Columbines are based) and she looks very much like your Girl. I wouldn't worry about her not coming into lay yet. She'll do so eventually. My record is a Welsummer who didn't lay until she was 40 weeks old. I've currently got a couple of Girls from this year's hatch who haven't started to lay yet (but another one from the same cock and hen started at just 21 weeks, bizarre!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dislaney Posted December 11, 2010 Author Share Posted December 11, 2010 Thanks WitchHazel! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted December 11, 2010 Share Posted December 11, 2010 both my columbine and cream legbar ran behaved like yours until they started to lay now they are 2 most friendly hens I've got also they are the brains of the outfit too first to the treat tub and first in the kitchen door bostin looking girls by the way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted December 11, 2010 Share Posted December 11, 2010 Defo a girl, and a girl demonstrating typical Columbine behaviour... I have 2 and they are both insane, one in particular who constantly chases the cat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dislaney Posted December 12, 2010 Author Share Posted December 12, 2010 Thanks all - now feeling much relieved! Nice to know that my ladies are as pretty as I think they are - thanks also for the 'bostin' compliment! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
