Egg Song?

[silverback]

All are true! My hens sing a lot - they have multiple songs depending on whether they are being let out in the morning, going in in the evening, looking for treats etc.
But the egg song is loud and clear and I do think it is most prominent when one of the hens has gone back to the nest when the others are out ranging and then she needs to announce her whereabouts so they can flock together again!
S.

 

[centrarchid]

Birds I am observing to produce two distinct vocalizations at different times in respect to laying an egg. The first is a wah-wah-wah as the nest site is saught out / appraoched. The second startled cackle like or bauk sound emitted after hen walks some dstance from nest site appears to help hen regroup with flock. The first sound I do not know purpose of. In a domestic setting it could be out of context or we simply not watching close enough to understand meaning.

The more I watch these birds, the more I think they have reasons behind their behaviors. In many ways they are like a cross between a crow and an ostrich. This definant in terms of what they eat and maybe in terms of complexityof social behavior. This may not be true for the more domesticated breeds but some of the game breeds and definantly the wild jungle fowls, a great deal more is going on than assumptions about dumb chickens would indicate.

 

[Artemis Fowl]

Yes, that's one theory. Another theory is that she makes this racket to distract a watching predator from the nest with the egg she's just left behind. I've also noticed that sometimes my hens will sing before they lay, too. Who knows what's going through their minds?

Wouldn't that attract a predator more it's like she's saying "I'm all by myself come get a free meal!"

 

[centrarchid]

Quote:
Wouldn't that attract a predator more it's like she's saying "I'm all by myself come get a free meal!"

I think sounds made are infact intended for communication with other chickens, rather than as distractions for predators.

 

[Artemis Fowl]

That's odd for me because my chickens can see each other from across the yard and they still make the egg song. Maybe they just like to talk to each other?

 

[centrarchid]

Mine can often see each other as well. Vocalization may be needed to exhange more info, just like with humans standing face to face.

A korny theory I have in respect to sounds before and after egg laying is that hens indicating to each other where a given nest site is located. When I see hens parasitize / cuckhold each others nest my assumption one hen gains and another looses. In reality it may be a form of insurance for primary hen if she is lost before clutch is set. A few extra eggs by another hen may increase odds another hen will brood first hens offspring. Otherwise, first hen will rear a couple to few of second hens offspring but that is cost of insurance.