Are chickens in distress when they start laying??

[blueyzjg]

My RIR Gertie just starting laying on Friday. Today suddenly she starts squaking and running all over the yard frantic!! Her two sisters were busy digging in the garden to even notice her. I picked her up and put her in the coop thinking maybe an egg was coming. She ran back out and started the same frantic run around the yard. My neighbor came out to see if there was a cat in the yard , I said no she's been like this for about 15 minutes. I picked her up again and put her in the coop, locking the door so she couldn't come right back out. That seemed to quiet her, I open the nextbox 5 minutes later and there it was, a freshly layed egg. Are they always frantic when they first start to lay?? Seems like she knew it was coming but had no idea where she could put it.

 

[Yay Chicks!]

It sounds like she was singing the egg song and had to let everyone know that an egg was coming. Some will sing first, some after, some will sing for another hen. They are goofy that way

 

[blueyzjg]

She did sing the egg song after, but seemed scared to death before.

 

[Yay Chicks!]

It can be very startling and sound a lot like when they are upset by something.