I posted a couple days ago about my girl Vera...a thought just occurred to me to ask you guys about this funny thing she does: when I come near her to pet her, she squats down like she's ready to mate. When I bend down to stroke her back, she gets really into it and makes these silly grunting sounds. Do anyone else's birds do that??
I have a Rhode Island Red / buff Orpington cross, and she squats for me when I pet her. I think I heard something about the hen is recognizing your dominance? Anyway, some of my hens also start peeping/cheeping vigorously when petted (no Cochins yet, hoping to add one or two...) so the vocalizing may be a variant of that.