Non-broody hen acting like a mother hen (tidbitting, etc.)

[Morrigan]

I've been watching my 5 year hen engage in some interesting behavior. She's a 5 years old sussex, and the unquestioned "alpha" hen in the group. We also have a 5 year old rooster. She has never been broody, or showed any of the classic wanna be broody behavior like puffing up or spending hours on end in the nest box.

This spring, when she has been sitting in the nest boxes to lay eggs, she starts making the soft clucks and other vocalizations that sounds exactly how a mother hens talks to new chicks. She's been spending a little extra time on the nest, but not excessively so (2 hours here and there). Today, out the yard she found some goodies and made the distinctive tidbitting sound that I've only heard mother hens or roosters make.

I'm not worried at all, but find it interesting, and was wondering if anyone has seen this behavior before.

 

[TheTwoRoos]

My hens do this soem time,generally the ones who have a very dominant or bulling personality.And a lot of times the dominant pullets in my young chick flicks do it,use to think I had roosters.

 

[TheTwoRoos]

My hens do this soem time,generally the ones who have a very dominant or bulling personality.And a lot of times the dominant pullets in my young chick flicks do it,use to think I had roosters.

 

[TheTwoRoos]

My hens do this soem time,generally the ones who have a very dominant or bulling personality.And a lot of times the dominant pullets in my young chick flicks do it,use to think I had roosters.

 

[TheTwoRoos]

My hens do this soem time,generally the ones who have a very dominant or bulling personality.And a lot of times the dominant pullets in my young chick flicks do it,use to think I had roosters.

 

[Morrigan]

My hens do this soem time,generally the ones who have a very dominant or bulling personality.And a lot of times the dominant pullets in my young chick flicks do it,use to think I had roosters.

That's interesting. It must be a top hen sort of thing.