Do hens "sing" the egg song without laying?

[barred2rock]

Mine do egg song when they are nervous or see a predator around.

Yeah, when they did it yesterday, I went to check on them and found our cat snooping around the outside of the run.

Anyway, when I was petting the most mature girl she presented her vent which I could see was still dry. Checked the other two most mature with the same results. So, I guess they're just messin with me.

 

[NorthTexasWink]

I went to the brooder to check my biddies and turn out the light for bedtime for them. Played that YouTube audio of the egg song for my 4-5 week old pullets. Most ran instantly to hide. A couple cocked their heads to listen, then hid. One stayed laying in her spot listening intently. All went completely silent. It's taken them a minute to come back out. I told them "I'll be expecting to hear that from each of you on a regular basis come fall!" Hopefully they'll take that to heart.

 

[Kiki]

I used to have a hen that would sing the egg song whenever one of the other hens laid. I think she just saw herself as the "town crier" and liked to announce coop happenings.

I have a Welsummer that sings for everyone too.

 

[aart]

The 'egg song' is very similar to an 'alarm call'.
I think you have to be pretty darn fluent in chickenese to tell the difference.

 

[NorthTexasWink]

I'm thinking it highly likely that was the first grown chicken my biddies have ever heard, seeing as they are hatchery chicks.

 

[Rosemarie25]

What does an egg song sound like? I keep reading about it but have no clue.

This is the link to a youtube channel to hear what it's like.

 

[EmmaDonovan]

I used to have a hen that would sing the egg song whenever one of the other hens laid. I think she just saw herself as the "town crier" and liked to announce coop happenings.

We get this, too. Sometimes one lays and begins singing and the others just join in:

"I laid an egg! I laid an egg!"
"You did? You laid an egg?"
"Yes, I laid an egg!"
"Did you hear? She laid an egg!"
"An egg! An egg! She laid an egg!"