I know, bizarre question...but, bear with me while I explain.

We've had chickens for 6-7 years now. Three years ago we got 30 Delaware chix, they grew for 7 months, we culled out all the roosters except 2. The following year we hatched out an additional 20 or so from the girls' eggs (cool!). Again, we allowed the birds about 7 months, at which time we again culled the roosters and some of the older birds. We kept one of the older roosters and one of the younger roosters. We had an "attitude" problem with the younger bird, so he got sold, along with some of the much older, non-Delaware birds. So,a little less than two years ago, we ended up with one capable, older rooster (very sweet, too), and about 18 girls (or so we thought...).

The other day, my son came in the house asking when we got another rooster. We didn't. He insisted that there was a second rooster, and brought into the house one of the "girls" - she had 3/4" spurs and her combs appeared larger and redder than all the other hens. In addition to all that, it appears there may be another hen developing spurs... Curiouser and curiouser...

Oh, we will be getting some replacement Delawares (chicks) this year - Perhaps the "ol' man" isn't doing his "job". We'll be getting a new rooster for the flock.

-- Judi (ddecaro@snet.net), April 16, 2001

Answers

I have alot of hens that have spurs,I've seen some fight like roosters,I've had a hen that started crowing.She was given to me by a neighbor ,an old timer.The old people around here say when a rooster crows it means someone is going to die.I was told to kill it. I wouldn't because she was a good layer and I didn't believe the superstition.3 days latter a hawk got her.I guess the old people's superstition had some fact.She died.Most game hens have spurs.

-- SM Steve (A12goat@cs.com), April 16, 2001.

Correction ,the old people say when a hen crows, someone is going to die.

-- SM Steve (A12goat@cs.com), April 16, 2001.

Mine always crowed whenever the chicken hawk flew over. It's an alarm signal. My Rhodies grew spurs their second year. I liked the bigger eggs though.

-- DMT (dmtaylor@fanninelectric.com), April 16, 2001.

Some hens go thru a hormonal thingy and start to crow. It usually stops after they molt.

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), April 17, 2001.

I've never heard of hens crowing how interesting. We have a hen that acts like/ looks like a rooster, well we thought she was a he until I saw her lay and egg. LOL!!! She fights with our rooster and won't let him mate with her. Sometimes it looks as if they might fight to the death, but she usually gives up. Our real rooster out wieghs her by 3-4 lbs. Maybe she'll start crowing never know.

-- Kelle in MT. (kvent1729@aol.com), April 17, 2001.

Have you heard the old saying, "A crowing hen and a whistling girl never come to a good end?" I saw that on a sampler in a restored German farm house last fall and got a good laugh from it.

-- marilyn (rainbow@ktis.net), April 18, 2001.

I learn something new at this site every day!

-- T. Crockett (pbandjallen@jcn.net), April 23, 2001.

Okay my mom always used to say that to me when I was whistling because she thought it wasn't lady like but she always said Whistling girls and Cackling hens always come to the same bad end. Always wondered what that bad end was. Chicken soup or dumplins. Well I am still here. I don't whistle a whole lot though

-- Carol B. (wande333@earthlink.net), July 02, 2001.

My mother told me the old saying about crowing hens & whistling girls when I had a crowing hen. So far I've had 2. Unfortunately, both did come to bad ends from possoms.

-- Bonnie (stichart@plix.com), July 03, 2001.

i have leghorn that has a large comb and small spurs could it be a dominent female.

-- drew (ata1hunt@aol.com), August 20, 2001.

We've had several crowing hens in the past and a bantam hen started crowing a few days ago. Unfortunately, the other hens did come to bad ends (raccoons). Hope this one doesn't - I like her.

-- Bonnie (stichart@plix.com), August 24, 2001.