Freaky hens sex change

Jo Richards from Bristol found herself in that situation when she awoke one morning to find that her prize hen had suddenly become a cockerel.

Rather than the egg-laying hen that the 42-year-old Ms Richards had become used to, she actually discovered a cockerel with a scarlet comb and very loud wake up call.

But the bird keeper decided to tackle the issue head on and opted to tactfully name him Freaky – perhaps as revenge for his early morning squawking.

She told the Mirror: "One morning out of the blue she just started crowing. I've never heard of such a thing."

And it seems Freaky is really getting into his new role, fighting with other males and even trying to bed down with his former female cage mates.

The reason for Freaky's sex change is down to a rare condition affecting bird's hormone levels, according to Victoria Roberts of the Great Britain Poultry Club.

Adrian Keep, National Federation of Poultry Clubs spokesman, said: "It does happen but the odds are very, very rare. I've only see it once in 55 years."