Hen will not stop squawking, no apparent reason?

[JoeInPA]

My Welsummer hen is kinda wacky, she is very skittish and jumpy and just a strange bird. This morning she has been squawking nonstop for no apparent reason. She has yet to lay her first egg but she should be laying any day now, I'm guessing maybe related to that? My other hen just started laying and did nothing of the sort. I also just got rid of my rooster two days ago, could it be stress related? Here is a short video-

 

[azygous]

Nothing's wrong. She's just trying to live up to the reputation of Welsummers to be as noisy and as obnoxious as possible before laying an egg and after laying an egg. If you have more than one Welsummer, they will all get into the act - every single time one decides she's ready to lay an egg.

So, yes. She's going to be laying an egg very soon. That's what's she trying to tell you. She's also saying, "What is there about 'bawk-squawk-bawwwk-squaaaaaaaawk' don't you understand? I really can't be any clearer!"

 

[JoeInPA]

Nothing's wrong. She's just trying to live up to the reputation of Welsummers to be as noisy and as obnoxious as possible before laying an egg and after laying an egg. If you have more than one Welsummer, they will all get into the act - every single time one decides she's ready to lay an egg.

So, yes. She's going to be laying an egg very soon. That's what's she trying to tell you. She's also saying, "What is there about 'bawk-squawk-bawwwk-squaaaaaaaawk' don't you understand? I really can't be any clearer!"

Good to know. I only have one welsummer. Are welsummers generally on the spazzy side?
My white rocks are so quiet and calm and docile yet my welsummer is very quirky. She's always been like that, the welsummer rooster was more subdued. I never knew if it was her breed or her personality.

 

[azygous]

I'm down to three Welsummer hens now. They are a quirky breed. Each of my three has a unique personality. One is super meek and very affectionate, another is independent and doesn't like being touched, and the last one can take it or leave it as far as being handled and is pretty easy going.

These three haven't resumed laying after their fall molt, but when they do, they'll be as noisy as they ever were, I'm sure.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

This morning she has been squawking nonstop for no apparent reason.

Very common of birds getting ready to lay their first egg! The excessive chattiness is almost always a good indicator that you WILL be getting an egg... that day. My gals who do it... don't do the bawk awk on days they aren't laying even if they do join in the egg song when another starts up.

The one in your video sounds more like the egg song than what I am describing... Some practice that ahead of time also. One of my pullets sang all day... then in the afternoon when sitting on my shoulder her first egg came unexpectedly!

I hadn't realized Welsummer were quite so quirky in personality though, must be why I haven't kept any long term.

Pretty birds, lovely eggs! I agree nothing sounds wrong.

 

[JoeInPA]

Thanks for the replies, my welsummer is the only one with a name, I call her Lucy, i.e. Lucille Ball, kinda crazy... lol. She also had a leg injury a couple months ago from which she quickly recovered but she was limping so we were calling here Limpin Lucy. I can't tell my white rocks apart.

Lucy has always been kinda wacky, even since she was a chick in the brooder. She doesn't like being handled, she makes a lot of noise for a hen, she is pretty shy and very skittish. She also definitely cares about her status in the pecking order. She's quick to boss the white rocks around. She is a little older so she has some seniority. The white rocks could care less. She's very friendly and once you are holding her (I haven't very often) she doesn't mind.

 

[JoeInPA]

Well you guys were right she definitely was ready to lay an egg! Her first! The larger, less shiny one is hers, the smaller one came from one of the white rocks.

 

[azygous]

I bet she's pretty proud of herself, and she told you so after she laid the egg. You just may not have been around when she announced it.

Drama knows no limits when some hens feel like advertising (loudly) their egg laying abilities.

 

[aart]

There's not a lot louder than a group of POL pullets...SMH.

 

[JoeInPA]

I bet she's pretty proud of herself, and she told you so after she laid the egg. You just may not have been around when she announced it.

Drama knows no limits when some hens feel like advertising (loudly) their egg laying abilities.

Oh she definitely announced it! I was on the far side of the house fixing a door and heard the squawking pick up again for 15 or 20 minutes. I figured she had either just laid an egg or maybe one of the others had laid an egg. The white rocks dont make much more than a peep when they lay. Lucy announces it to the whole neighborhood