Can a rooster turn out to be a hen?

Answer 1

Yes Rooster can act like hens and hens can also act like the rooster. The rooster acting like the hen will usually do this when there is more than one rooster among the flock and it is being dominated by the "boss bird". If there is no other rooster present then this behavior will change over time and the "confused rooster" will soon be strutting his stuff around the hens.

Answer 2

I don't have that problem. Generally when you know you have a rooster because they look, sound and act like a rooster, then it won't turn out to be a hen.

However, I have had the problem of what I thought and hoped were hens turn out to be roosters. This is how it happens:

• Genetically: there is a condition called 'hen feathering' where a rooster will look like a hen. However once he reaches sexual maturity, he will start mounting the hens. Some of mine have crowed and others haven't.
• Environmentally: sometimes sexual maturity is delayed or placed on hold. If you have too many roosters, and then cull most of them out of the flock, that will give the delayed rooster the opportunity to show his true colors. I have also had roosters wait until they were 9months to a year in age before the secondary sex characteristics showed. I truly thought the bird was a hen, but the "yolk" was on me!

Answer 3

Yes. The word cockerel just means young rooster. They always become roosters unless they do not make it past their first year. After the first year they are called roosters.