As a new chicken owner this year, I too had some questions about cackling and did a little research....as I am a "curious" person. My hens do tend to cackle after they have laid an egg, and apparently being egotistical, I felt CERTAIN that they were doing this to inform ME, personally...that there were one or more eggs waiting FOR ME! I was actually feeling pretty special and important that they thought enough of me to notify me of their efforts! However, after a little research, it became apparent to me, that their cackling actually had nothing at all to do with ME! LOL...HOW DISAPPOINTING!
According to Gail Damerow, a leading expert for more than 30 years, "chickens do NOT cackle to announce the arrival an egg. As she emerges from the seclusion of the nest, she has no idea whether or not a predator might have sneaked up while she was conducting business. So just in case a predator might be waiting for a chance to pounce on either her or her eggs, she sounds a warning that both gets the attention of the other chickens, in the event she needs help, and puts the predator (if in fact he's there) on notice that he's been spotted. With all that fuss going on, any predator that might be hiding nearby surely would be intimidated enough to slink away. This theory - for it must remain a theory until someone finds a way to ask hens whey they cackle -is consistent with the fact that a hen that's been disturbed in the nest before she's ready to leave, having been startled out of her trance, will burst from the nest cackling (thus attracting attention away from her eggs).
So, I felt this bit of information, sadly, seems to make a lot of sense...and my self-importance as a proud first-time chicken owner was certainly deflated a couple of pegs.....
According to Gail Damerow, a leading expert for more than 30 years, "chickens do NOT cackle to announce the arrival an egg. As she emerges from the seclusion of the nest, she has no idea whether or not a predator might have sneaked up while she was conducting business. So just in case a predator might be waiting for a chance to pounce on either her or her eggs, she sounds a warning that both gets the attention of the other chickens, in the event she needs help, and puts the predator (if in fact he's there) on notice that he's been spotted. With all that fuss going on, any predator that might be hiding nearby surely would be intimidated enough to slink away. This theory - for it must remain a theory until someone finds a way to ask hens whey they cackle -is consistent with the fact that a hen that's been disturbed in the nest before she's ready to leave, having been startled out of her trance, will burst from the nest cackling (thus attracting attention away from her eggs).
So, I felt this bit of information, sadly, seems to make a lot of sense...and my self-importance as a proud first-time chicken owner was certainly deflated a couple of pegs.....
