Is the egg song an individual thing?

[sjshaw1980]

Hello! We have 5 pullets and 3 hens....our pullets, esp the australorp just started laying in early August, and sound off with the egg song both before and after laying and sometimes just to make a racket. The hens, not so much. So my question is this, does the frequency and/or volume of the singing decrease over time or is it just a individual bird thing? I dont mind the singing at all, my neighbors might though, so wondering if I need to start putting care packages together to keep them happy.
Thanks for all responses!

 

[Judy]

I think every one of mine has a different behavior. Some are silent, some sing when another is laying, some when they are laying, or just laid, or are about to lay....

 

[GardenWeasel]

In my experience it's individual. My Astralorps are pretty vocal too. I have six different breeds some sing some scream some growl and some are silent. I have 43 right now about half are laying, some are molting and some not grown up yet. Depending on the day it can get pretty noisy.

 

[devora]

Totally individual. I had a Welsummer that sang all day. She'd sing for her egg and all her flock mates' eggs. Loved that bird. Egg songs are awesome.

Yup, if yer neighbors need some eggs now's the time to sweeten 'em up!

 

[7 Biddies]

Totally individual. I had a Welsummer that sang all day. She'd sing for her egg and all her flock mates' eggs.

One of the many things I love about chickens ... They just crack me up.

 

[7 Biddies]

I've got an EE who's a stealth layer. I have to guess whether she's laid or not.

 

[willowlady1]

Egg song? Is that what the tremendous din they raise before, during, and after laying is called? I figured before -- well, they are uncomfortable and know something's about to happen; during -- dang, it's happening and it smarts; after -- whew, that's over with, now everybody should be proud of me!

 

[7 Biddies]

Egg song? Is that what the tremendous din they raise before, during, and after laying is called? I figured before -- well, they are uncomfortable and know something's about to happen; during -- dang, it's happening and it smarts; after -- whew, that's over with, now everybody should be proud of me!

Yup.

Sometimes I get a specific "G'bawk, buk, buk, buk, buk" from one, and another just laid an egg a few minutes ago which was announced with "G'BWAK!". I consider those to be their real musical efforts. The rest is just "ATTENTION EVERYBODY! I'M GONNA LAY AN EGG!" (or some such announcement)

 

[Maverick Farms]

My EE mix makes very little noise if any and the whole flock (2 other pullets and a Roo) get very quiet when she gets in the nest, when she is done the Roo sounds off with a big crow....I told him "typical male, the female does the hard part and you boast and take credit for a job well done!"