Is Dorrit actually a Dennis?

[Bephlam]

Hiya!

Right...wee problem. Remember little, sick, frail Dorrit? Well...she's gone...and in her place we have loud, cocky, bullying...CROWING thing!!

I let the girls out a little early today (5.30am - because the dogs were crying for a wee wee)...anyway...they all came out as normal...but...Dorrit stood at the doorway of her house and did this bizarre crowing thing...OVER...and OVER....and OVER...again!!

Imagine my horror..!!!

Anyway...I'm aware some birds can be noisy, but this was a really weird kind of shriek/crow noise. She's about 23 weeks, I think. What's happening...do you think??

Sex change? she's a he? or is there a chance that because she was let out before light she was just making a warning call??

She's a very small bird...and doesn't look like a boy...although she's very leggy and comby...but she's got NO TAIL FEATHERS whatsoever.

If she continues to make this level of noise I'll have to rehome her...but at this stage I'm hoping it's just teething problems!

[MaureenHall]

Whoops ............

[Bephlam]

Don't say Whoops...lol...D'ya think??

[Bephlam]

Ok....this is a pic of Dorrit (R) with Bertha (L)....

Both henny...aren't they??

*crosses fingers*

[MaureenHall]

Well was it a cock-a-doodle-do or a very loud chookchookchookbwark?

[Glutton4...]

Henny, or Hinny? ...

[Bephlam]

It was neither Maureen....it was weird....I can't explain it...but more like the start of a cockadoodledoo than a bokbokchookchook. It was loud...like someone blowing one of those party things that are made of paper and start off curly...*thinks* what are they called?? lol

[MaureenHall]

I know what you mean, a sort of hooter thing, but I don't know what they're called either. If my boys make that noise I can tell the neighbours it's my grandchildren having an extended party

[RedThorn]

fingers crossed it's just a phase!

[Bephlam]

lol...yeah, those hooter things!!

That's what s/he...sounded like! A REALLY LOUD party hooter. I'm thinking if it only happens a couple of times the neighbours won't connect it to the chooks...but...eventually, the penny will drop!

[Bephlam]

Yeah...the 'I think I'm a cockerel' phase!!

[SarzWix]

Where did you get them from Bephlam? If you bought them from a breeder as layers, then you should be able to firstly ring the breeder and ask their opinion, and secondly, persuade them to have it back if it's a boy.

[lynda66]

mine started off with something that basically sounded like a goose being strangled .... and sorry hun, but it looks like a boy to me .... are it's legs thicker than the definite girls?

[Glutton4...]

My ex-neighbour had a young Cockerel? who would 'practice' during the day. He'd shout 'COCK-A-DOODLE-HRRrrrrrrfff......' We moved before he grew up, or was eaten.

[Bephlam]

Well...it's 6am, and I've been up for an hour with a crowing *$%£&!*$ bird!! It's like a strangled goose Lynda...and it's loud. My neighbours will complain at this rate. He's still in the coup just now with the others, but it's not masking the noise really. I don't know what to do...I'm ill that it'll start the neighbours off.

I wouldn't say the legs look thicker...but they're MUCH longer and he just looking leggier and combier in general. I'm left in a pickle...I've emailed the breeder, and I want to return it...but, then I'm left with a single girl in the flock...and as much as she's accepted, she's not one of the original gang, and you know how that's never the same! Think she'll be ok to just return the cockerel and keep the hen??

To be honest, it's so noisy I feel like going out and ringing it's neck, but of course...I CAN'T!!!!

Let's hope the breeder takes it back....or else I've just paid good money for a bird I can't keep...BUT MUST GET RID OF PRONTO!!!!! As in...TODAY!