Why Hen Acts Like Rooster

It is not uncommon that one hen in a flock of chickens may begin to exhibit the cocky aspects of a rooster--usually when no roosters are present, but sometimes even in the presence of a strutting male. The hen not only takes on rooster mannerisms, but also will actually begin to physically change, taking on the more dominant characteristics of the male chicken.

  1. Behavioral Modifications

    • The physical change.

      In a group of 10 to 20 chickens, often one hen will begin manifesting rooster mannerisms, becoming belligerent, bossy and dominant. Ceasing the normal job of egg laying, this changeling will even begin to protect the other hens from perceived threats, strut like a rooster, show aggression toward humans, and even initiate the early mating rituals and behavior of its male counterpart.

    Changing Appearance

    • Cock's crow

      Hens that strut like a rooster not only act out like the aggressive male chicken, but also begin to take on all the flashy physical characteristics of the rooster. The hen will stop laying eggs. The characteristics of the cock's comb---the spiky red headdress of the rooster---often begin to show up in the smaller hen's comb on top of the would-be rooster.

    Cock-a-doodle-doo

    • The loud and powerful "cock-a-doodle-doo" is the trademark call of the rooster and can be heard up to a mile away. Perhaps most surprising in the odd transformation of a hen to rooster is the strangled attempts to crow. The dominant hen flaps its wings, juts out its head and neck, and produces a weak imitation of the rooster's crow.

    Odd Combination

    • A rare combination of nature and nurture seems to be the key, producing the odd hen-to-rooster transformation. A hen with a damaged left ovary is the initial factor, a condition that usually does not affect general development or egg-laying capability. But adding the feature of a rooster-free environment helps spark the change, as the hen steps into a needed role of protector and yard boss.

    Long-Shot Odds

    • Although the true hen-to-rooster transformation is an atypical occurrence, it does happen and has been calculated as a 1-in-10,000 probability. There are documented cases of hens transforming into roosters due to a genetic condition related to the aforementioned damaged left ovary. To date, there is no documented case of a rooster-to-hen transformation.