questions

[noroosters]

what prompts all the cackling and crowing all at once? I assume it's because a hen has laid an egg.

 

[azygous]

It's a "cultural" ritual chickens have. They are flock animals who are tightly associated with the flock dynamics. Back a few million years when chickens were wild and not domesticated, they had to be very careful making a living because predators were a constant danger. So when a hen needed to lay an egg, she found a hiding place to do her business. But when she was finished, she had to find out where the flock had gone while she was busy.

So she hollers and carries on until she gets them to respond, letting her know their location so she can rejoin the flock. They all answer her call and she then knows where to find them. Even secure in a run, chickens do not give up this common ritual.

 

[thecatumbrella]

Mine will also get into a tizzy because a butterfly flew too close to the run. I find chickens are somewhat like dogs, because once one starts cackling, they all have to join in... whether they know what started it or not!

 

[noroosters]

It's a "cultural" ritual chickens have. They are flock animals who are tightly associated with the flock dynamics. Back a few million years when chickens were wild and not domesticated, they had to be very careful making a living because predators were a constant danger. So when a hen needed to lay an egg, she found a hiding place to do her business. But when she was finished, she had to find out where the flock had gone while she was busy.

So she hollers and carries on until she gets them to respond, letting her know their location so she can rejoin the flock. They all answer her call and she then knows where to find them. Even secure in a run, chickens do not give up this common ritual.

Very interesting! I'm sure the rooster dancing around a hen is also a ritual, it so much reminds me of some of the African's dances as well as some of the Native American's dances, feathers and all!