chicken sounds

[dehowery]

Our girls have always made this sound but now I hear it allot more often... It sounds like a cat's purr only a little more gutural.
All the girls have done it at one time or another. They make this sound when they are happily laying under the fig tree, etc. It is not a sound of distress . Anyone know what they call this and if there is a reason they do it. ALSO what's with the tail wagging from side to side?

 

[Willowspirit]

As far as I know it's a purr. I had one hen do it when she was in my arms falling asleep.

 

[emmalemons]

If I think I know what your talking about, this noise is the noise a lot of hrs do after they have laid an egg. A lot of times I’ll hear it in the afternoon after they’ve laid there eggs. I’m not sure what the tail wagging is although I k ow what your talking about. Mabye it’s just them watting away flys or something.

 

[Willowspirit]

I’ve never heard the egg noise but if I understand it is louder than a purr.

 

[micstrachan]

Not sure about the purr thing, but my chickens do the tail wag thing, too. I even saw a chick do it today! I think it’s like a stretch or scratch type thing.

 

[dehowery]

I’ve never heard the egg noise but if I understand it is louder than a purr.

They crow almost like a rooster after they lay an egg. IT's very loud and can be heard from inside the house. Sometimes they start crowing in the process of actually laying the egg and sometimes after. We have noticed that not all our girls do "the egg song".

 

[dehowery]

Not sure about the purr thing, but my chickens do the tail wag thing, too. I even saw a chick do it today! I think it’s like a stretch or scratch type thing.

That makes sense -never thought of it that way.