Hens Making Noise

[chickenman111]

My hens have been making odd sounds today. We thought maybe they were laying eggs and cackling but we didn't find any eggs. Do hens make a noise before they lay eggs. Thanks


P.S. We found an egg yesterday and they are 21 weeks old.

 

[sumi]

Some hens do start doing the "egg song" before they start laying.

 

[azygous]

Are you talking about hens who already are laying, or pullets that are expected to begin laying any day?

Hens who have been laying regularly will make a fussy "cluck, cluck, cluck" noise while pacing back and forth, before finally deciding to choose a nest in which to lay an egg.

As for pullets who are approaching point-of-lay, I don't know of any special sound that would indicate laying is imminent. You will, however, notice the combs of those who are within days of beginning to lay have turned bright red, as opposed to light pink.

 

[lorain's fids]

Last year in December before mine started laying eggs they had started becoming very vocal a few weeks before the eggs arrived. Now a year later 2 of the 5 do an egg song before they lay an egg and the other 3 sing the song when they are done laying.

 

[jamieluzs4]

The hens will make noises, it is a bit painful ! They will get used to it and make less noise as they lay more eggs!

 

[chickenman111]

they are pullets and we have been waiting for them to all start laying.

Thanks

 

[centrarchid]

The hens are making the "song" because under natural conditions it helps with normal functions of social group. The egg song produced before egg laid seems to indicate to harem master (rooster that will protect her and brood) that she is going to nest. My roosters always know where hens of their harems nest and seem to play a very important role in selecting the nest site. The call following the production of an egg with my birds is produced after hen has slinked some distance from nest. This call may distract nest predators trying and it speeds rooster finding hen as she rejoins harem. In most intances, the rooster copulates with such calling hens as soon as they return to harem after laying egg.