Anyone have theory why roosters respond to hen's egg song?

[HenOnAJuneBug]

Whenever my hens are in the coop laying eggs and squawking, some of my roosters many times will start sounding back and rush towards the coop as if they're very concerned, even when they're a hundred and more feet away. Sometimes they don't do it at all. Anyone have a theory as to why they do that?

 

[birdofhermes]

my guess would be that the eggs of roosters that don't do this are more likely to be eaten by predators and so the genes for this behavior are more likely to be passed on

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

my guess would be that the eggs of roosters that don't do this are more likely to be eaten by predators and so the genes for this behavior are more likely to be passed on

All of mine do it, they just don't do it every time.

 

[Ridgerunner]

You want theories! I can help you overthink theories.

When a hen is laying the rest of the flock is out foraging. She does not know where the rest of the flock is. Not all hens that lay sing the egg song when they finish but many do. I think it is a call saying “where are you”.

Not all roosters rush to a hen that is singing the egg song but some do. They do not need to go escort her back to the flock, all they need is to crow or another hen may call so she knows where they are. But a hen that is laying needs to be laying fertile eggs. Usually if a rooster rushes to a hen that has just laid he will mate her. Not always but often. I think his action is more about making sure a hen that is actually laying is fertilized.

 

[aart]

They all just like to yell.

 

[FluffehChick]

I know. They respond because they are telling the roosters to keep guard of the coop for predators. i know that is 100% true. (hope i don't sound arrogant.)

 

[Patty724]

I have 1 roo and 5 hens, and he doesn't "sing back" to the laying hen every time. I've always wondered why as well

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

You want theories! I can help you overthink theories.

When a hen is laying the rest of the flock is out foraging. She does not know where the rest of the flock is. Not all hens that lay sing the egg song when they finish but many do. I think it is a call saying “where are you”.

Not all roosters rush to a hen that is singing the egg song but some do. They do not need to go escort her back to the flock, all they need is to crow or another hen may call so she knows where they are. But a hen that is laying needs to be laying fertile eggs. Usually if a rooster rushes to a hen that has just laid he will mate her. Not always but often. I think his action is more about making sure a hen that is actually laying is fertilized.

That makes a lot of sense. Roosters that run back sometimes will chase a hen around trying to mate her.

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

I know. They respond because they are telling the roosters to keep guard of the coop for predators. i know that is 100% true. (hope i don't sound arrogant.)

You just sound confident.

 

[The Angry Hen]

My theory is that it makes the laying process easier if they talk to another of their kind... May sound crazy, but hey!