Non-crowing cock

[RichmondHens]

I have a rare thing - a cock who doesn't crow, although I don't know why. I've been watching him now for several weeks and I'm certain he has not uttered a sound. He went through a heavy moult (heavy for a cock anyway, they usually do it a bit at a time) a couple of months back and doesn't appear to have crowed since. He used to crow perfectly normally. It's quite bizarre. I know all my cocks' crows really well and can identify them all from a distance and I just know I haven't heard him. He seems totally well in himself, his breathing is normal and he hasn't lost his voice as he chucks and chunters to his ladies same as always. He's also active in every other department, and comes out of the house like a steamroller every morning scattering hens in all directions as he dances around them. Maybe it's the time of year, who knows, and he will find his voice in the Spring.

[Nicos]

Hmmm...not knowing much about chooks ....my thoughts would be along the lines of..

After a heavy moult- hmm- could he have been a bit run down- and maybe caught something like a fungal infection or something in his throat?
(I know when humans are run down they are more susceptible to infections/viruses etc)

[VirginVegGrower]

Maybe he has nothing valid to say!
This could be a new line in back yard cockerels - keep a cock with no doodle do!

[Nicos]

Maybe he can't get a word in edgeways!!

[adamhartree]

maybe nicos is right, with all them females around is more than likely they do enough talking for everyone lol.

[mothhawk]

Perhaps he hasn't adjusted yet to the clocks going back...

[VirginVegGrower]

Maybe Arthur is Martha or he needs some over 40's medicine. I have a friend who has a horse with both male and female bits...can this happen to chickens?

[Scarlet]

Well, I would love one! Put him on a breeding program fast...

[VirginVegGrower]

Yep me too - new line in silent roosters

[nellie-m]

Very useful. Think of all the poor chicken keepers around the world that can't keep a male because of complaining neighbours. You'll make a fortune!

BTW I had a crowing hen once. I didn't have an adult cock at that time, and she sort of filled the gap. She stopped crowing again as soon as the chicks had grown up ;-)

[chris]

Could be post-op (did you see that news thingy about a both-sex chicken?)

[baldrick]

fluffy eira crows after laying. chick chick chick a doodle doooooooo. Its her egg celebration bless.

[RichmondHens]

Well, I would love one! Put him on a breeding program fast...

It did occur to me I could sell him for a lot of money ................ however, he used to crow, so I suspect he will do so again. I hatched four chicks from him this year, all pullets, so technically I could say none of his offspring crow either!!

BTW he's a crossbreed bantam, so not worth tuppence anyway, just very very handsome.

[Scarlet]

BTW he's a crossbreed bantam, so not worth tuppence anyway, just very very handsome.

I keep a silver sussex bantam, just cos he is handsome! He causes me no end of problems - jumping into any pen he fancies, he's not bothered by any of the other cocks! Flys over my electric fence to graze outside and then calmly follows me back to the fencing and waits for me to lift it up for him to get underneath. Not sure how he has escaped the foxes over the years, I never thought he would last but he is 5 now and I have such a soft spot for him I will be sorry when he goes.

[Hilary B]

I remember reading in some chicken book, a good many years ago, that hens only lay eggs from one ovary, and if it packs up, the other one MAY start to operate as a testicle. It was an old book and this might be one of those things that has since been proven wrong, but it did seem to be based on actual scientific investigation.