Are Leghorns Just Copycats?

[ShellyBlanco]

This morning when I went to the coop to feed, one of my Leghorns was singing the egg laying song. That is what I call it, since some of my RIRs that lay sing this song either before or after laying an egg. I was taking care of some little "chicken soups" when she started singing and I thought, "This is awesome, Butthead started laying this morning". So she sang and sang, when I went to the coop, there was no egg. I was disappointed.

2018-08-21 010

• ShellyBlanco
• Aug 24, 2018

 

[wamtazlady]

They will often practice the egg song before they actually lay. Heck, I even had a rooster that would sing the egg song along with the hens as they laid.

 

[BlackHackle]

This morning when I went to the coop to feed, one of my Leghorns was singing the egg laying song. That is what I call it, since some of my RIRs that lay sing this song either before or after laying an egg. I was taking care of some little "chicken soups" when she started singing and I thought, "This is awesome, Butthead started laying this morning". So she sang and sang, when I went to the coop, there was no egg. I was disappointed.

Chickens also use that call after they have been spooked. It ain't only when they lay

 

[Kessel23]

The song is used to communicate with the other birds, it is not the hen saying "hey I laid an egg," in the wild when a hen has to lay an egg she will leave the flock and go to her nesting spot. The flock does not just sit around in the same spot all day though, by the time the hen is done laying the flock has usually moved quite a bit. The hen then uses the egg song to call to the rooster, the rooster will answer with a similar song, hens can also answer. The egg song is also pretty much the same sound roosters and hens use to alert the flock of a predator that has attacked or has been spotted running around trying to sneak up on the flock. I just call it an alarm call, most of my hens don't even use it when laying but there is a few that never shut up afterwards.

 

[Kessel23]

Hens will also use the egg song if they are seperated from the flock in some other way.

 

[MissChick@dee]

When they are in the yard and I hear that I investigate.

 

[Kessel23]

When they are in the yard and I hear that I investigate.

x2
Yesterday my whole flock was making the alarm call, I went out there and a sharp shinned hawk had grabbed one of the cockerels and everyone was freaking out. I wish one of the other roosters or cockerels would have attacked it but they were all big wimps, 25+ roosters and cockerels and half of them just ran off to hide and the other half sat around watching while making the alarm call. The hens were also making the call.

 

[woodenfarm]

Butthead love the name



I have one or two ladies that will sing for the other ladies.
One of them is the lady that takes care of the whole flock keeps them in line and watches out for them. She will sing almost every time one of the other hens lays

 

[ShellyBlanco]

They will often practice the egg song before they actually lay. Heck, I even had a rooster that would sing the egg song along with the hens as they laid.

LOL, I don't have a rooster now. The one I did have had to be culled before any egg laying started. Can't wait to see those Rooster antics that I read about on here.

 

[ShellyBlanco]

Butthead love the name



I have one or two ladies that will sing for the other ladies.
One of them is the lady that takes care of the whole flock keeps them in line and watches out for them. She will sing almost every time one of the other hens lays

We have Beavis and Butthead (named by my husband) both Leghorn pullets. Thanks for the love.
I am glad you posted, we have a lady that does the same. Goes in last at night (looks like she takes a headcount, so funny). I'm guessing that is because we don't have a Roo. I find her in the loft just milling around while one or two others are on the nest. Their relationships are very complex. We love just observing them. I never here the "song" unless one is in the loft laying or has laid.