Family kick out chicken after it turns into randy cockerel in rare sex reversal
A FAMILY is turfing out a chicken after it turned into a cockerel and started waking the neighbours.
Buffy the one-year-old Buff Orpington had an incredibly rare spontaneous sex reversal.
It means she has gone from the best egg-layer in her flock of six to a randy rooster who is making a racket in the mornings.
Owners Mark and Rebecca Pannett are now having to part ways with Buffy after complaints from neighbours.
Teacher Mark, 58, of Harworth, Notts, said: “Three weeks ago she was another one of the girls giving us an egg a day.
"But she started behaving more and more like a cockerel and cuckooing.
“We are also sure she is still laying eggs, though not as many as before.
"We’re very confused by the whole thing.
“Sadly, she’s making too much noise so we’re going to have to give her away.”
The one-in-10,000 change occurs when a damaged ovary causes a hen’s testosterone levels to soar, turning the remaining ovary into a testicle.
Poultry expert Dr Jacquie Jacob suggested further tests to see if Buffy was able to both lay and fertilise an egg.
But she said it would be unlikely as the bird would not have the organs to deliver sperm.
Dr Jacob said: “I’d be very surprised, but stranger things have happened.”
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Jess Welburn, of The Mobile Vet Company, said: "There have been cases of sex reversal where the left ovary shuts down due to something like a cyst, and the right ovary develops into a male organ.
"These chickens then develop male characteristics but these don't usually lay eggs.
"The other way is when the egg is fertilised by two sperms, and develops into half male, half female. Those are called gynomorphs where they can look female on one side and male on the other."