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Trans gender hen?

 
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Leo



Joined: 25 Feb 2011
Posts: 227

PostPosted: Sun Oct 07, 12 7:10 pm    Post subject: Trans gender hen? Reply with quote
    

I have a 2 1/2 yr old hen who is moulting, & when I looked at her today, she has new tail feathers comming through. The new ones are like my cock's tail feathers, not the usual hen tail feathers, ie long arching, & the same width all the way along.
No other 'cock' characteristics showing, & no wierd noises like crowing.

Not sure if it's relevent, but she survived a fox attack several months back. Lost her tail & bum feathers, and all under one wing. Couple of punctures under the wing. Feathers all grew back, but not her tail, or on the top of her back.

She's been a good layer & is bottom of the pecking order.

Anyone know what's oing on?

sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales
PostPosted: Sun Oct 07, 12 7:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

my mum has a trans gender chicken, started off as a hen, but is now more or less a cockeral, (though a slightly camp one if truth is told).

Leo



Joined: 25 Feb 2011
Posts: 227

PostPosted: Sun Oct 07, 12 7:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Sounds interesting!

It will be interesting to see if she developes any other 'cock' characteristics. Will have to keep an eye out for neck/saddle feathers, she hasn't lost the old ones yet. Of course I may have to wait till Jan/Feb to see if she ever lays again.

Actuall, it's a bit odd, because the new tail feathers are the right colour for a hen (Amrocks, so autosexing), not for a cock.

Perhaps Chez will see this, I know she's had Amrocks too, so might have come accross this?

12Bore



Joined: 15 Jun 2008
Posts: 9089
Location: Paddling in the Mersey
PostPosted: Sun Oct 07, 12 8:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I now have an image of Kenneth Williams going "Cock a doodle-doo-er matron."

bimini



Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 156

PostPosted: Sun Oct 07, 12 8:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I remember reading in the AA Book of British Birds that in birds only one ovary develops to produce eggs. If this becomes damaged for any reason the other one develops into a testicle. I guess that the 'new' testicle then produces male hormones and so affects plumage.

jamanda
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Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 35056
Location: Devon
PostPosted: Sun Oct 07, 12 9:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

bimini wrote:
I remember reading in the AA Book of British Birds that in birds only one ovary develops to produce eggs. If this becomes damaged for any reason the other one develops into a testicle. I guess that the 'new' testicle then produces male hormones and so affects plumage.


Can it actually do spermatogenesis? I know their X&Y system works differently from ours. To be fair the AA Book of British birds may not go into that much detail.

bimini



Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 156

PostPosted: Sun Oct 07, 12 9:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Good question Jamanda!
Just had a search and found this:
https://www.birdsnways.com/wisdom/ww32eiv.htm

and this:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ar.1090300504/abstract

Mr O



Joined: 13 Feb 2005
Posts: 5512
Location: Nova Scotia, Canada
PostPosted: Mon Oct 08, 12 1:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

It happens frequently.

chez



Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35934
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset
PostPosted: Mon Oct 08, 12 9:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I've had it happen before - but never with an Amrock. (I have given mine up, Leo ).

bulworthy project



Joined: 27 Jun 2011
Posts: 188
Location: Rackenford, Devon
PostPosted: Mon Oct 08, 12 12:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

We had an old english pheasant fowl hen grow spurs and a Light Sussex do a full sex change so that it looked like a proper cockeral and start mounting the other hens.

Leo



Joined: 25 Feb 2011
Posts: 227

PostPosted: Mon Oct 08, 12 8:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

How interesting, I had no idea it was so complicated. Will have to keep an eye on her. She is almost done laying for this year, but gave me an egg last week.

Actually, forgot to mention that quite a few of the other hens have small spurs on one or both feet., although they also have 'hen' tail feathers.

Hope she's not done laying altogether, she's one of my best. Will see what her new hackle/saddle feathers look like when they come through.

Perhaps I will end up with a butch hen that doesn't lay!

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