We have one Black Austrolorp chicken that makes a sound that is like a geese honk/squeek/bark. It appears healthy in every way and is eating normally. I noticed no strange droppings. They are only 4 months old and haven't started to lay and do not have their wattles yet. Could this be a rooster? It does not look any differently from the others. These were 4H chickens so there should not be a rooster. Thanks

-- Ann Markson (tngreenacres@hotmail.com), July 27, 2001

Answers

If it is a roo, the crazy sound isn't unusual. When they first find their voice, it doesn't sound much like a grown roo. They always make me laugh! I have one little guy who's pretty precocious; he started the day he turned 9 weeks old!

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), July 27, 2001.

It may very well be a hen. My hens can make some really interesting honking sounds.

If it were a rooster, you'd likely have already heard him crow, and he'd likely have wattles.

I imagine she's just making her "hen" noises.

:-)

-- Buk Buk (bukabuk@hotmail.com), July 27, 2001.

All of my 13 hens haven't started laying eggs until they were 6 months old and older the rarely start laying before. Any more questions e-mail and ask me. I've been raising chickens for 4 years, and many have won prizes at the fair.

-- Lacie (lacie@ccweb.sherman.wnyric.org), February 09, 2002.

Australorps are not terribly fast maturing birds. I agree with Rogo...sounds like a young fella finding his voice. They do sound funny at first!

-- Earthmama (earthmama48@yahoo.com), February 09, 2002.