Solitary chicken - need advice

[cavysqueak]

We have an ex-battery hen, Doris, who has been with us for almost two years now, so that would make her about 3 & 1/2. She has never laid very good eggs, they were always mis-shapen or very thin shelled, lately they've been more likely to be softies despite us adding loads of stuff to the diet of the flock & then more specifically by giving her some calcium by mouth for a while. As a bit of background Doris also had mycoplasma about a month after we got her (we now know it's obviously in our flock) so she was on strong anti-biotic injections every day for a fortnight.

 

She is bottom chook (3 of 3), so you wouldn't think that she needs to be tough, but yesterday when I realised that she might've gone broody I also noticed a spur had begun to grow on her leg. The other leg has a very small stub of a spur. About 2 months ago we started to hear noises which could only be described as a lady hen trying to crow in the mornings. We just thought because Doris was always very vocal then it was just her latest 'trick'. However combined with this new information I'm beginning to wonder if she's one of the 'sex-changing' hens you've read about. Her comb / wattles seem unaffected.

 

My questions are this really:

Is there any way to reverse or stop the change? As if she does really start to crow then we'll have to have her put to sleep - as backyard chicken owners in a residential area, we are not allowed to keep cockerels. This would be devestating to us.

Could this change be brought on by / made more likely by something in, or lacking in her diet / environment? We don't want the other two changing as well!

Do we treat the 'broodiness' she seems to be going through now as normal? i.e. broody cage for a couple of days.

 

Thank you for your continuing fabulous advice!

[Patricia W]

I shouldn't worry. Some of my hens have spurs naturally, and I have several who from time to time, try to imitate Phillip the cock. But it's pretty weedy and nothing like the real thing! She could be " crowing" in order to move herself up the pecking order. Mine seem to do it when they want to dominate another hen, and only occasionally. I doubt she is changing into a cock. It's very rare.

[Chortle Chook]

It sounds as if your girly has always had a slight mal function in the production of her eggs and sometimes hens get a little cyst on one or both of their overaries. This is harmless to the bird, but stops the production of oestrogen, and bit by bit brings on more male characteristics. Your hen may be a bit butch now but is unlikely to start full on crowing like a real cockerel

[JM]

That's interesting - I've been meaning to ask a similar question myself. Our oldest girl (about 5.5 yrs now) has started laying soft shelled eggs, which they all devour - and she's grown spurs too. She's the top hen - and she's bright as anything, so I haven't been too worried. I put it down to changing hormone levels - henopause?

 

Jill

[Chortle Chook]

Soft shelled eggs do seem to arrive at the beginning or end of an egg laying cycle. My hens just love it when another gal lays a softy so all I get to see are the remains on the aubiose. Luckily this has not brought on an all out egg eating habit but I guess that is something to watch out for.

[Angie]

After losing my top girl over a week ago, leaving two old girls (5yrs old now ) who aren't laying much at all. The Leghorn is now trying to crow on a morning , after i let them out of the coop , she is making a right old noise ! I guess she is really trying to become top girl, and old Sassy is so laid back she is ok with it.

I have been torn between keeping them and adding more girls or having a fresh start. My closest neighbour and a friend has said she has noticed the crow far more than the egg arrival . ( even though it is nothing like an actual cockeral it is rather throaty and loud.)

Cockerals are not allowed here either, so i am hoping things will settle down.

[Chortle Chook]

I expect your old girl will quiten down soon. At that grand old age I guess it takes a bit longer to adpat to change and sort things like pecking order out

Well done you for getting your old ladies to such a good age - may they enjoy another autumn. I think oldies of all species are special and should be celebrated

[cavysqueak]

I've spoken to our vet and there is an option for Doris. We can give her an implant which will stop all hormones, both male and female. It is expensive, will probably only last for a year and may not reverse the changes so far, but we have to give her the best chance of a long, happy & healthy life.

 

If she continues to 'crow' more often / early in the day we may have to rehome / dispatch her and if she continues to lay the softies, or squishy masses which she has been doing then she could end up with egg peritonitis. So we are just awaiting the vets to have the implant in & then we'll take her.

 

I know that this decision won't sit well with some people, but we have to do the best for her and for us in our situation.

 

I hope your ladies are all well, and that any 'male shananagins' are limited to only a few ladies!

[Chortle Chook]

Do let us know how this goes. I have heard about this implant thing but have never known anyone do it. I think that the main risk for any hens undergoing surgery is the anaesthetic Will she need that or is the implant done by injection?