The rooster crowing and the hen laying eggs is a natural law; however, these laws can be altered by certain factors. In rural areas, there's a saying that if a hen imitates a rooster's crowing, it should be killed. Why is this? What is the symbolic meaning behind a hen's crowing?
I. The principle behind a rooster's crowing
Actually, a rooster's crowing is more than just waking up; it also symbolizes a rooster's status. In the countryside on a clear morning, early risers are sure to be drawn to the crowing of roosters. These roosters, standing proudly on high places, seem very arrogant as they crow. But do you know the principle behind a rooster's crowing?
Roosters have a pineal gland in their brains that secretes melatonin. When the first rays of sunlight shine into a rooster's eyes in the morning, melatonin secretion is inhibited, and at this time, the rooster's body begins to secrete large amounts of testosterone, causing them to crow involuntarily. Therefore, roosters can act as a natural alarm clock in the morning, the fundamental reason being that they often cannot control themselves.
Besides the crowing in the morning, we can also hear roosters crowing at other times, but what does that mean?
Chickens are social animals, and roosters are particularly aggressive. Roosters will fight and compete with each other to win mates. The victor will crow to show his status and attract the attention of hens. Sometimes, he will also crow to warn other roosters not to enter his territory.
The crowing sound is a manifestation of a rooster's strength, and the strength of the crowing determines the rooster's status in the flock. Roosters of higher status not only have priority in choosing food and mates, but also have the right to crow first, which best demonstrates their status.
Roosters crow in order of rank, with the lead rooster undoubtedly holding the highest position in the flock. It seems that crowing certainly holds significant meaning for roosters, but what about hens?
II. Reasons for a Hen's Crowing
Chickens are divided into different social classes, and the crowing rooster is inevitably the leader of the group. A hen crowing is likely because there are no roosters left in her flock, and in this case, the hen will crow to assert her status among the hens.
In the absence of a rooster, the other hens will assume it as the leader, and from then on, it will have the same priority in eating as the rooster leader.
As time goes by, the change in habits will gradually evolve into a real physiological change. Eventually, the hen will completely act like a rooster, repeating the rooster's duties and crowing every day.
However, the crowing of a hen goes against people's understanding. In people's eyes, anything abnormal must be a sign of something sinister. Because people in ancient times had limited knowledge and relied on feudal superstition, they regarded this phenomenon as an "ominous sign" and a taboo. The homeowner might have "bad" things happen because of this.
Over time, this belief has persisted in rural areas. Many rural areas have similar beliefs, considering a hen crowing as an ominous sign, and only by killing the hen immediately can one avert disaster. To ensure their own safety, chicken owners generally follow this advice.
III. Biological Conversion
The idea that a hen crowing is an "ominous sign" has no scientific basis. In fact, it's a sex reversal phenomenon, where an animal, under the influence of estrogen and androgens, transforms from a functionally male or female individual into a sex reversing individual. Generally, sex reversal rarely occurs in animals, but this doesn't mean it's impossible. Hens have two ovaries, a left and a right. The left ovary is responsible for ovulation, catalysis, and ultimately, the development of an egg, and is also an important organ for releasing estrogen; however, the right ovary remains dormant and generally does not function or even develop.
If the left ovary is damaged, the hen's egg-laying frequency will decrease or even stop. At this time, the hen's estrogen secretion will also decrease. Meanwhile, in order to maintain hormonal balance, the usually inactive right ovary will gradually open and begin to secrete androgens, at which point the hen will gradually transform into a rooster.
At this time, the hen may only crow and is not a rooster in the full sense. However, when the right ovary is fully opened and developed, it will form a new male organ: ovotestis, which has the same function as the rooster's organ.
At this point, the hen has completely transformed into a rooster. In other words, after sex reversal, they become as aggressive as roosters, often bullying other flocks, no longer laying eggs, and crowing frequently. The trigger for this phenomenon is when the hen's male hormone secretion is significantly stronger than female hormone secretion.
In real life, there are many cases of hens undergoing sex reversal. Farmers raise hens mostly for laying eggs. When a hen no longer has the function of laying eggs and becomes aggressive and bullies other chickens, it seems reasonable for the owner to kill it.
Conclusion
A hen crowing is not an "ominous sign," but a normal biological reversal phenomenon. These feudal superstitious beliefs stem from a lack of biological knowledge. However, killing a hen that stops laying eggs is indeed a way to maximize profits, as it eliminates potential threats within the flock.
Living in a society governed by science and the rule of law, we should analyze some feudal superstitions more rationally and strive to explore the scientific truths hidden behind them rather than spreading misinformation.
