During the Egg Song

[The Tiny Homestead]

So we are all familiar with the Egg Song, but one thing I've always noticed is that when my hens come out of the coop singing their egg some, they also go around picking up leaves and other objects and throwing them on their backs, or behind them as they walk. I suppose I could google the behaviour, but I was curious to see what people say here.

 

[alinas2010]

So we are all familiar with the Egg Song, but one thing I've always noticed is that when my hens come out of the coop singing their egg some, they also go around picking up leaves and other objects and throwing them on their backs, or behind them as they walk. I suppose I could google the behaviour, but I was curious to see what people say here.

I wondered this for quite a while before I googled it, also lol apparently it is to try to camouflage themselves. Something that is somewhat instinctive, to try to blend in with their surroundings after (or during/before) laying an egg and then attracting all that attention via song to themselves. They’re not very good at blending in, though, are they?

 

[CashewVulture]

Mine do that too. I think it’s just a reflex. They just finished laying an egg so their “need to make the nest” instinct kicks in. They do it in the nesting boxes too. They’re just trying to make their nest look good and round for the eggs.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I think it's a camouflaging instinct (either for themselves or the nest, or both) but they don't all do it. I haven't seen any of my hens do it in quite a while.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Mine sang The Song of Their People the first week that they started laying, often accompanied by their flock-sisters, but no more. Sometimes I’ll hear a quiet pleased tut-tut-tut coming from the coop, but that’s it. This makes me very sad.

When the first one was a week out from laying, she’d go into a nest box and tuck the hemp around her, making a nest and purring.

But they’re all very business-like now, hop in, pop it out, hop out.

We don’t have a rooster. Apparently my husband and I serve that role, and we’re usually sitting outside with our coffee when they’re laying, so no need to call us. (The actual function of the egg song is to call their roo/ presumable dad to escort them safely back to the flock.)

Since we’re out there, 4 yards from the coop, they don’t seem to need the escort service.

 

[rosemarythyme]

We don’t have a rooster. Apparently my husband and I serve that role, and we’re usually sitting outside with our coffee when they’re laying, so no need to call us. (The actual function of the egg song is to call their roo/ presumable dad to escort them safely back to the flock.)

Since we’re out there, 4 yards from the coop, they don’t seem to need the escort service.

Doesn't work for me, I can sit there and talk to them before, during and right after they lay, but most of the hens go shooting out of the box like they're on fire, find the highest perch they can, and sing the song of their people.

I blame Dandelion the Faverolles (aka "Noisehole"), she apparently taught all the younger hens that yelling as much as possible before and after laying is the only way, so they're all trying to outscream each other.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Doesn't work for me, I can sit there and talk to them before, during and right after they lay, but most of the hens go shooting out of the box like they're on fire, find the highest perch they can, and sing the song of their people.

I blame Dandelion the Faverolles (aka "Noisehole"), she apparently taught all the younger hens that yelling as much as possible before and after laying is the only way, so they're all trying to outscream each other.

Go Dandelion! I’m lucky to hear two clucks.

But living in a city neighborhood with 0.15 acre lots, I’m kinda relieved to not have any extraneous noise.

One of my criteria for picking breeds was overall quietness, and this has worked exceptionally well except for the Barred Rock, who is about to be renamed Ethel for braying like Ethel Merman every 7 seconds of so.