We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.

Can Chickens be Half-Male and Half-Female?

Updated: Jun 04, 2024
Views: 4,738
Share

About one in every 10,000 chickens is born gynandromorphous — that is, half-male, half-female. Chickens like this look like they're divided down the middle, with different colored plumage as well as a different muscle structure on the different sides of their body.

More about gender-bending animals:

  • Chickens aren't the only ones who can be gynandromorphous; lobsters, crabs and some insects can be born this way too, though it is still rare.

  • Though it's unusual to find truly half-male and half-female animals, hermaphrodism is common in the animal world. Many species of worms, snails and even fish are hermaphroditic, since they have both female and male reproductive organs, but not gynandromorphous, since they lack the characteristic "split body" look.

  • Not all gynandromorphs have a clearly split body, though — some, known as mosaic gynandromorphs, look like a mixture of both sexes. This is particularly common in butterflies.
Share

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
By anon337681 — On Jun 07, 2013

If people really want to change their sex, they might do so by altering their genetics. The way sex changes are now, they are not truly a change in sex, but only sex coverup or disguise. Change the y to x or change a y to x, initiating the different growth pattern through genetics and you'll have an actual, literal change in sex and not just a coverup.

Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/can-chickens-be-half-male-and-half-female.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.