Positive Thinker Posted October 28, 2014 Share Posted October 28, 2014 I have three polish chickens which I've had nearly three months and this morning when i was in the process of opening their door to their coup, I heard a very clear cock a doodle do. I've never heard this before and I've never had cause to suspect I didn't have three girls although there has only been the odd occasion when I've had three eggs on any one day but I was advised this isn't unusual because they are not perlific layers. I am not getting at present because they are moulting, could this explain the noise? I spend a lot of my free time watching them whilst in the garden, sad I know but they are so entertaining I am not able to say which of the chickens made the noise because it stopped when they came out of their coup. Is it possible I have a male chicken and is there physical signs that give it away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted October 28, 2014 Share Posted October 28, 2014 A laying hen will do a large poo in the run first thing in the morning Positive Thinker. I don't know why, perhaps to keep the coop clean for rearing chicks? Cockerels will do lots of thin poos during the night, so if you know where each is roosting you can check in the morning. If it's difficult to distinguish between them you could fit leg bands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted October 28, 2014 Share Posted October 28, 2014 A laying hen will do a large poo in the run first thing in the morning Positive Thinker. I don't know why, perhaps to keep the coop clean for rearing chicks? Cockerels will do lots of thin poos during the night, so if you know where each is roosting you can check in the morning. If it's difficult to distinguish between them you could fit leg bands. No one told my ladies this! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted October 28, 2014 Share Posted October 28, 2014 Mine havn't been told this either. I had bif poos in the nest box this morning and my hybrids are definitely all girls Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miller30 Posted October 28, 2014 Share Posted October 28, 2014 Hi I keep polands mine are prolific layers of quite big white eggs better than any of my other bantam breed they also start to crow between 8-12 weeks so quite early but saying that one of my old girls crows but its more of a scream I find girls have a nice pom pom on their head and boys have more of a punk rocker hairdo leanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted October 28, 2014 Share Posted October 28, 2014 Well what I should have said is non-laying hens do lots of small poos like a cockerel during the night. A laying hen will poo much bigger and USUALLY does a huge one in the run in the morning. All ours fit that description, but we only have Pedigrees. We can tell when they are coming into lay before the comb reddens by the size of their poos. They are eating a lot more in preparation I suppose. Of course you can check the vent size as well. A laying hens is much larger than a cockerel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted October 28, 2014 Share Posted October 28, 2014 Did you buy them together? if they were sold as a trio then I think that is usually a cockerel and two hens. my girls always do massive poo's in the morning and poo overnight..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Positive Thinker Posted October 28, 2014 Author Share Posted October 28, 2014 Thank you all for the advice, yes I bought as a threesome. There were well into laying as i think they were about nine months old when i bought them in September and I've not had any inkling they may not all be girls until today. It's good to know they are prolific layers usually, but they have definately slowed down as i am o ly getting the odd egg. I'm guessing it's because they arevstarting to moult and the colder weather. On my next day off work I will be checking their poos first thing in the morning when I have mor time, hope my neighbours wont be looking out their window lol Might sound a daft question but is it obvious when a male is fertilising the female Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted October 28, 2014 Share Posted October 28, 2014 Polands (note not Polish) are a nightmare to sex for anyone not experienced with them birds sold as a trio will be two females and a male, this often catches people out. If you were sold them as three pullets that is different but if the word trio was used one should be male Males will have a shaggy punk hairdo and females a nice rounded hairdo as Leanne says. the white crested ones are easier to sex as the wattles are visible and much larger on a male Its not impossible for a female bird to crow but its not as common in pullets as older birds and in the case of young birds and especially hard to sex young birds I would think that suspecting one to be a cockerel would be my first thought Have to say Beantree I have not known your above theory to be the case despite having literally hundreds of birds over the last six years Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Positive Thinker Posted October 29, 2014 Author Share Posted October 29, 2014 Thank you RedwIng, I stand corrected on the name. I was told the name Polish and it's just stuck Assuming I have a male and it's certainly sounded more like it, do I have a problem? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 I think you will have a problem if you are in an urban environment, I would check with your local council. if your neighbours complained, in theory you could contest it and get environmental health involved but would you really want the hassle and in my humble opinion its always better to at least try to keep neighbours on side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miller30 Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 Yes you would only have a problem if you have neighbours or anyone to complain but saying that some people like the noise I wouldn't bother ringing or asking anyone as you would be surprised some people never notice you have a boy and whats the point in causing yourself grief for no need I would wait and see if anyone notices or says anything unless you don't want a boy that is .My neighbours didn't even know what noise a turkey made lol so I tell them I have 1 boy who can do 10 different crows gobble like a turkey and honk like a goose ha ha leanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 I think you will have a problem if you are in an urban environment, I would check with your local council. Ditto. Maybe have a look on your council's website under Environmental Health, I'm in Birmingham and their website used to say no cockerels allowed in Brum itself. Like Leanne says, your neighbours may not actually know what a cockerel sounds like! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Positive Thinker Posted November 4, 2014 Author Share Posted November 4, 2014 Update, I am non the wiser, haven't heard the noise since. "Ooops, word censored!"ody's complained so taking everyone's advice and keeping mum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted November 4, 2014 Share Posted November 4, 2014 I think you will have a problem if you are in an urban environment, I would check with your local council. Ditto. Maybe have a look on your council's website under Environmental Health, I'm in Birmingham and their website used to say no cockerels allowed in Brum itself. the no cockerel rule is for Allotments the only way they can stop cockerels on private property is under noise control regs. after a complaint or animal welfare issues also after a complaint Like Leanne says, your neighbours may not actually know what a cockerel sounds like! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miller30 Posted November 4, 2014 Share Posted November 4, 2014 Hi that's good you've not heard any crowing since if you can put some pics up I can take a look at put your mind at rest leanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
