I have been watching my free ranging hens very closely this season and noticed they produce a crowing sound of sorts fairly regularly. Initially I thought it was simply an activity associated with stretching but beginning to think otherwise. It is produced by hens that are broody incubating eggs or brooding chicks. Hens exhibiting behavior while incubating do so only while off nest foraging. Hens with chicks also do so only when foraging with chicks. Prior to "crow", hen vigerously flaps wings with vocalization starting midway into flapping with both activities stopping at same time. Crow lacks syllables of male crow and is of much shorter duration. I think the behavior may be a spacing mechanism where a hen advertises her presence. Chicks seem to ignore it.
