Hi, my rhode island red hen is about a year old and is running about with the other hens but she is making this 'growling' noise, its not too loud you have to go near hear to near it, please tell me what it is.
My boys do that, and also broody hens do that... It's a noise they can make, but if you can get a good look at her be sure she has no breathing problems or discharge from the nose or eyes.
My EE 'roars' like a lion after laying an egg. She also purrs like a kitten when I stroke her plumage.
The "growl" is a warning sound; its nothing to be overly concerned about. My BO has taken to "growling" when I pass their run after they have been penned in from their morning run So, she's either growling "I hate you for locking us back in!" or, she's just telling the others, "Mum's walking by, but what is the thing behind her?" I've heard the "purr" sound too - normally when they are dust bathing and in heaven! My broody hen does a sort of growl/roar sound. Chooks! We grow up thinking they are one-sound birds; then we keep them and learn they have a whole range of sounds/language we simply did not know about
