‘Transsexual’ hen Olivia’s sex reversal operation to stop her crowing
HEN Olivia’s life was turning to crisis; she’d stopped laying eggs; her pecs were beefing up; she’d grown wattles under her chin and a comb on her head; and had begun crowing. Enter Camden’s Avian Reptile and Exotic Pet Hospital and a rare sex reversal operation, snatching her back from the brink of roosterhood.
Macarthur
Don't miss out on the headlines from Macarthur. Followed categories will be added to My News.
HEN Olivia’s life was turning to crisis; she’d stopped laying eggs; her pecs were beefing up; she’d grown wattles under her chin and a comb on her head; and had begun crowing. Enter Camden’s Avian Reptile and Exotic Pet Hospital and a rare sex reversal operation, snatching her back from the brink of roosterhood.
Olivia is living proof that if she looks like a rooster and acts like a rooster, she may not be a rooster.
Instead, Olivia is a one in 10,000 chicken who has a syndrome called sex reversal.
The condition was caused when Olivia started secreting androgens including testosterone.
Her owners took their pet to Camden’s Avian Reptile and Exotic Pet Hospital for help.
Olivia was otherwise healthy but the neighbours near the family farm where she lived were not too keen on her loud crowing.
When Olivia arrived at the hospital, staff noted she had a well-muscled chest, wattles under her chin and a lovely comb on her head; all the characteristics of a rooster.
“You would be forgiven for thinking that this little lady is a rooster, but looks can be deceiving,’’ Avian Reptile and Exotic Pet Hospital said on its Facebook page.
“She is a hen who about one year ago stopped laying eggs, developed the physical characteristics of a rooster and even began to crow!’’
The vets placed a subcutaneous implant under Olivia’s skin to help prevent the production of testosterone and down-regulate the masculine features and hopefully stop her crowing.
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR CHOOK
The implant was successful but treatment will have to continue regularly for the rest of Olivia’s life.
“With these implants, amazingly, Olivia’s wattle and comb became small, her chest muscles decreased and she no longer crows. She returned to her original appearance,’’ the hospital said on Facebook.
“Although this treatment will be for the rest of her life, Olivia is able to keep living a happy life with her family.’’
On Facebook, the hospital said Olivia’s change to a rooster was caused by he ovary becoming dysfunctional, stopping her secreting oestrogen and starting androgens secretion, including testosterone.
The testosterone caused Olivia to look and act like a rooster.