Do older chooks grow'spurs'?

[Snadger]

Or is it only cockerels?

The reason I ask is that I noticed one of my oldies sitting on a perch and she appeared to have what seemed to be spurs?

[Glutton4...]

Two of my Batties have Spurs - strangely the two dominant 'Laydees.'

[Nicos]

WikiAnswers - Do hens have spurs

and this.....

quote....Actually, hens and roosters can both have spurs. Spurs are related to sex, but they are also related to breed. Some breeds tend to have spurs on both males and females and others tend to only have spurs on the males. It's much more common to have spurs on the roosters, and not on the hens, but hens of breeds such as the games and Sumatra breed are well-known for occasionally having spurs, though others can have them too. All chickens have a little budding spur nub on each of their legs, but typically it's only the male that has them develop.


and nope-I didn't know that either!!

[Snadger]

WikiAnswers - Do hens have spurs

and this.....

quote....Actually, hens and roosters can both have spurs. Spurs are related to sex, but they are also related to breed. Some breeds tend to have spurs on both males and females and others tend to only have spurs on the males. It's much more common to have spurs on the roosters, and not on the hens, but hens of breeds such as the games and Sumatra breed are well-known for occasionally having spurs, though others can have them too. All chickens have a little budding spur nub on each of their legs, but typically it's only the male that has them develop.


and nope-I didn't know that either!!

These are plain old ISA browns.............

[Nicos]

Old gals ya say????

well all I can think is that it's the chook equivalent of getting a middleaged hairy chin!!!!

[BUFFS]

These are plain old ISA browns.............

maybe they are just being ambitious,womens lib of the chook world

[Hilary B]

Old gals ya say????

well all I can think is that it's the chook equivalent of getting a middleaged hairy chin!!!!

There is probably a lot of truth in that!
My understanding (I read these semi-scientific things and the info sticks) is that if a hen is slowing down egg production, it is possible for her to actually 'turn into' a cockerel (effectively). Apparently while she has 2 ovaries, she only uses one, and if it stops working, gets damaged, or sometimes if it just slows down, the second one kicks in, but as a testicle!

[RichmondHens]

Just as well that doesn't happen to us! Wouldn't want to grow a thingy when my ovaries stop working!

[Nicos]

Just as well that doesn't happen to us! Wouldn't want to grow a thingy when my ovaries stop working!

Gawd.....something else to contend with dangling on ya knees!!!