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Chickens making purring sounds?

post #1 of 8
8/3/12 at 9:30pm
Thread Starter 
Well, I am new to having chickens and have two questions. First, my chickens make purring sounds like a cat. Can anyone tell me what that means. Second, every night when my chickens go to bed, they struggle to find a spot to roost. They step, walk, and lay on each other, they fall off and jump back on and disrupt the rest of the chickens, it looks and sounds like it hurts. Is this normal and is there some way to stop this?
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post #2 of 8
8/4/12 at 4:43am

Mine make a purring sound, sometimes, when laying, and when they want me to give them that treat in my hand.  But I'm no expert on chicken noises, at all.

 

The nightly roost battle is pretty well universal.  It's part of their pecking order process.  It's like, everyone has to keep everyone else in line.  It's unusual for anyone to get hurt.  Just enjoy the show, it's part of chicken TV!  Silly chickens....

Judy
Happiness is when you can look at your chickens and smile....
Worry is interest paid on trouble before it comes due.

Flockwatching my little bunch of mutts, a favorite pastime.

BYC Troubleshooting article -- click here

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Judy
Happiness is when you can look at your chickens and smile....
Worry is interest paid on trouble before it comes due.

Flockwatching my little bunch of mutts, a favorite pastime.

BYC Troubleshooting article -- click here

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post #3 of 8
8/4/12 at 5:51am
Many people have posted here that the purring noise means they are really happy. Mine make a noise that's more like a whirrr to indicate happiness, I've never heard them purr like a cat.

And yes, the confusion and such on the roost is universal, they all do it. Eventually each will know it's "place" and it won't be quite as much a riot in the evening.

== Easy incubator wiring chart: http://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=65925 Installing a thermostat: http://cmfarm.us/WHTincubator.html
Love those Orps!

I don't care why the chicken crossed the road, as long as mine don't!

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== Easy incubator wiring chart: http://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=65925 Installing a thermostat: http://cmfarm.us/WHTincubator.html
Love those Orps!

I don't care why the chicken crossed the road, as long as mine don't!

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post #4 of 8
8/4/12 at 2:43pm
Thread Starter 
Well the purring is strange because sometimes when they do that the roosters round up all the hens and pile up into the apple bin we have. Other times they will lay there and make the sound and they all come and pile up one each other. Its strange. And the roost fighting at night is just sad and funny to watch. I just hope it won't end up injuring one of them.
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post #5 of 8
8/4/12 at 3:23pm
Chicks do make a whirr that means "don't eat me" when dangestr is close. That could be what you're hearing when the rooster gathers them up. The two sounds are almost identical to me, both the "pleasure" and the "don't eat me" ones. Kind of like how the " I JUST LAID AN EGG" song sounds almost the same as "DANGER DANGER"

== Easy incubator wiring chart: http://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=65925 Installing a thermostat: http://cmfarm.us/WHTincubator.html
Love those Orps!

I don't care why the chicken crossed the road, as long as mine don't!

Reply

== Easy incubator wiring chart: http://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=65925 Installing a thermostat: http://cmfarm.us/WHTincubator.html
Love those Orps!

I don't care why the chicken crossed the road, as long as mine don't!

Reply
post #6 of 8
8/4/12 at 3:48pm

Mine make a purring noise when they are happy.  If I give them treats, or if they are rolling around in cold dirt when it's really hot outside.  It is sooo funny!  frow.gif

Wife, Mom to 3 little girls, Mail Lady, Zoo Keeper of 2 big dogs, 2 cats, lots of fish, and 11 chickens ~ 3 Olive Eggers, 1 Barred Rock, 2 Silkies, 1 Silver Laced Wyandotte, 1 Black Austrolorp, 2 D' Ucles, 1 Standard Cochin

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Wife, Mom to 3 little girls, Mail Lady, Zoo Keeper of 2 big dogs, 2 cats, lots of fish, and 11 chickens ~ 3 Olive Eggers, 1 Barred Rock, 2 Silkies, 1 Silver Laced Wyandotte, 1 Black Austrolorp, 2 D' Ucles, 1 Standard Cochin

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post #7 of 8
8/4/12 at 7:52pm
If I understand you correctly, my roosters (and a few hens when I didn't have roo) make the same sort of cooing/purring noise. Usually, they all run for cover. Look up when they do that, mine always do it when they see a hawk or other wild bird, even if it's just a chickadee. roll.png
Off the grid since 1998. Wife to a wonderful DH of 10 years, Mommy to a fantastic 7 year old little boy and 22 chickens. Partridge Rocks, Dominiques, Rose Comb Brown Leghorns, Easter Eggers, 1 Welsummer, 1 Barnevelder, 2 Red Stars, 1Black Copper Marans, and a few mixed breeds.
Another blog I follow- Natural chicken keeping blog: http://naturalchickenkeeping.blogspot.com/?m=0
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Off the grid since 1998. Wife to a wonderful DH of 10 years, Mommy to a fantastic 7 year old little boy and 22 chickens. Partridge Rocks, Dominiques, Rose Comb Brown Leghorns, Easter Eggers, 1 Welsummer, 1 Barnevelder, 2 Red Stars, 1Black Copper Marans, and a few mixed breeds.
Another blog I follow- Natural chicken keeping blog: http://naturalchickenkeeping.blogspot.com/?m=0
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post #8 of 8
8/4/12 at 10:13pm
Thread Starter 
I think they do that both when there happy and if they think something going to hurt them.
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BackYard Chickens › BYC Forum › Raising BackYard Chickens › Chicken Behaviors and Egglaying › Chickens making purring sounds?