Hen gradually develops features of a cock in Likuyani

Residents of Nasianda Village, Kongoni location in Likuyani Sub County have been perplexed after a hen, reared by one of them, gradually transformed into a rooster under mysterious circumstances.

According to Mr. Ben Omega, he bought the hen from Reuben Kasembeli, a
chicken vendor from the neighbouring Mutembei villege in 2016, and he intended to slaughter it after buying it but later changed his mind.

He said after one week the hen started laying eggs, and went on to lay a total of 12 eggs and 10 chicks were hatched.

He said since he bought it, it has hatched and taken good care of its chicks, but it started undergoing strange changes early this year.

Mr. Omega first noticed the changes in its appearance and behaviour last month when it started growing a chin wattle and began to crow like a cockerel. “It started strutting around the compound crowing like a rooster. At first, she wasn’t very good at it, but she progressed gradually and now she crows better,” said Omega adding that the chicken has also grown dark brown plumage and a scarlet cockscomb on top of her head.

Omega’s mother Mrs. Emily Kadi says according to the Maragoli tradition, it is a taboo for a hen to crow and such a hen isn’t meant to be slaughtered, but to be strangled instead, something which the son has refused to consider, given that he intends to see if it will regain its original state. Many residents are now thronging Omega’s home to witness the shocking phenomena.

Lugari Sub County animal production officer Mr Zachariah Mwaniki told West media such case could be as a result of hormonal imbalance

“This could’ve been a result of hormonal imbalance and in this case, male hormones could’ve been more than the female hormones,” said Mwaniki, adding that these changes aren’t common.